A Recipe for Shabbat Fish from Morocco

Posted on Thursday, 3, December, 2020Thursday, 15, February, 2024 by Rabbi

In the city of Marrakesh there was a boy named Chaim, He always meant well, but somehow found himself in many adventures. He was not the most learned of his brothers and sisters and people sometimes took advantage of him.

All week Chaim and his family looked forward to Shabbat. The best foods were prepared, and the family gathered around the table to talk Torah and sing zimerot together.

It was Friday morning when Chaim’s mother sent him to buy a fish for the Shabbat meal. The fishmonger showed Chaim different types of fish he had for sale and told him the specialties of the fish. Chaim picked out a nice whitefish for his mother to prepare for Shabbat dinner.

The fishmonger tells Chaim a recipe for cooking the fish he picked out. The fish was to be cooked with sweet peppers, tomatoes and spices, Chaim could not remember the recipe, even though the fishmonger told him the recipe twice. As soon as Chaim walked away from the fish stall in the market, he forgot the recipe. Finally, the fishmonger writes the recipe on Chaim’s hand.

As he left the market a cat began to follow him, so he walked faster. Suddenly he tripped and the fish flew out of his hands and the cat snatched the fish and disappeared with it.

Chaim was angry, but then smiled. He thought to himself, I know how to get even with the cat, and with that he licked the recipe off the back of his hand, so at least the cat would not know how to prepare the fish.

When Chaim got home, he told his mother what had happened. She sighed and just said “Gam zu l’tova (this too is for the best) and went on preparing for Shabbat.

Morrocan Shabbat Fish

Moroccan Shabbat Fish

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips		1/2 to1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tomatoes, sliced		salt and pepper to taste
6 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets or other white fish		¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons paprika		1 cup water
1 tablespoon chicken/consommé bouillon		¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

Step 2

Layer the sliced red peppers and sliced tomatoes in the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the tilapia fillets on top of the vegetables.

Step 3

Combine the paprika, chicken bouillon, cayenne, salt, pepper, olive oil, and water and mix well. Pour the seasoning mixture over the fish. Sprinkle with parsley.

Step 4

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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A Jewish Meal Heals – Kol K’voda Bas Melech P’nima

Posted on Thursday, 22, October, 2020Thursday, 30, November, 2023 by Rabbi

There was a time when little changed. People grew up in the same communities as their parents, knew the same people their whole lives, did the same work, ate the same food, and heard the same languages as their parents and grandparents. Today with all the technology (computers, tablets and cellular telephones) people are constantly meeting new people, hearing new philosophies and different ideas, and challenging religious and societal values. Young people today refuse to look at yesterday.

Jewish beliefs, customs and traditions have been changed by the rapid pace of today’s society. New ideas and new philosophies have clashed with ancient Jewish beliefs and customs. The foods of our past are prepackaged, our traditions are a vague memory, the teachings and beliefs have been left as archaic and outdated, and the stories are forgotten.

Why are so many people touched by a traditional Jewish meal? The food has a special taste that can only be found in the Jewish kitchen prepared with tenderness. Around the table people sit and speak of prayer, Torah and customs, and at times the old melodies stir the yearnings for something long forgotten. The stories touch the heart and soul of everyone around the table.

If being Jewish is merely a religion, a combination of prayers, rituals and customs, it will wither. If is a way of life, then it can flourish and lead to growth. Jewish people have a long history of different traditions, food, rituals, prayers and stories from all over the world, but one idea endures: Judaism is a dialogue, not a human monologue addressed to an indifferent universe.

We are all bound by the mitzvahs of relationships to the Holy One, blessed be He, to other human beings, and especially to all that G-d has created. As people gather and share a meal all these relationships come together and a holy atmosphere is created. In each generation, the ancient and blessed conversation—the dialogue that is Judaism—continues.

==========

It is told of a Jewish woman who carefully prepared food for each meal for Shabbos and Yom Tov with such holiness that if you ate the food she cooked, you left the table healed.

“In our earlier days, people would carefully plan for the special meals in such a way that they would have enough food for themselves and for some guests on Shabbos and Yom Tov. One week, a holy woman was cooking on Friday for Shabbos (the Sabbath) when a drunkard knocked on the door and was invited in. He was smelling of alcohol, but he said to the woman, ‘I’m starving. Do you have anything to eat? Who knew how long he had been without food? Besides, when someone says he’s starving, how can you not feed him? So she gave him from the food she’d prepared for all the Shabbos meals. After finishing what she gave him, he asked, ‘Is there more?’ Each time, he ate whatever was put before him and asked for more, until she said, ‘There’s not a crumb left.’ She gave him every¬thing she had prepared for all the Shabbos meals. She gave him everything gently and respectfully, because she was doing a great mitzvah (a good deed). She didn’t judge him by how he looked or for his crude be-havior, for who knows what troubles he had had?

“Then this drunkard did something unusual. He asked, ‘Can I speak with your husband?’ The woman went and spoke to her husband and told him about the drunkard’s request. The husband agreed to see him. When he came in, he no longer smelled, and he didn’t appear drunk. In fact, his face was glowing, and the husband realized at once that this was Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet).

He explained, “I only came here to bless your wife. Her kindness has made a great impression in heaven. But we wanted to give her a final test to see if she was worthy of the great blessing we have in store for her. She passed the test.”

What was the great blessing one may ask? It was the blessing of healing. That is why the food the holy woman prepared and served healed whoever ate it.”

Food that is prepared and served with love can heal the sick and revive the weary. The holy woman’s food, offered with such self-sacrifice, contained a heavenly blessing. This quality is not unique to this tzaddekes (holy woman).

There are other stories in which the healing powers of a holy woman come through the food she serves. And many women who prepare and serve food to their family put in their healing love as a main ingredient.

The holiness of Jewish women is hidden within their daily actions in cooking, giving tzedakah (acts of charity) and many ither mitzvahs. King David reminded us when he wrote, “kol k’voda bas melech p’nima, “(all the glory of a princess is within. (Psalm 45:14).”

Shabbosdike Stuffed Chicken Quarters

2-3 lbs Chicken quarters		1 stalk celery chopped
1 egg		1/8 tsp pepper
1 Cup Water or broth		1 Cup Farfel
1 sm to med onion finely chopped		2 Tbs oil or shmaltz
½ tsp salt		1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Thyme		2 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Rosemary		½ tsp Paprika
½ tsp Sage		Spices for Chicken

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Sauté onion and celery in oil or
Add spices and cook a few minutes longer
Stir in farfel
Beat egg with water or broth
Add to farfel
Let stuffing rest for 5 to 15 minutes
Loosen skin on the chicken
Spoon the stuffing under the skin and return the skin to its original position
Put in pan – skin side up
Brush with oil and season to taste
Bake covered 30 minutes
Remove cover and bake until skin is golden brown (30 to 45 minutes)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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This story recipe and others can be found in the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook, We are pleased to announce that 18 (Chai – the magic number of Life) of the story recipes have been collected into the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this unique cookbook, contact us projectshalom1@aol.com

A Lesson of a Patch

Posted on Sunday, 18, October, 2020Tuesday, 9, January, 2024 by Rabbi

So much has changed in what is taught to youth today. So often domestic skills such as cooking and sewing are overlooked. Many view these skills in a negative way, often saying that they are demeaning. Sadly, much has been lost in our throw-away society and acute gender identification. The question of the ethical and spiritual lessons that were learned are never addressed.

An old grandmother, Bubbie Feiga, taught her grand-daughter, Sarah Rachel, how to patch a worn garment. At the same time, she taught her beloved grand-daughter a lesson in mussar (religious values).

“One should not be ashamed to wear patched clothes,” Bubbie Feiga explained. “On the contrary, one should feel good about it. Do you know why? Because Hashem (G-d) gives us everything we have. But all these wonderful things are not presents forever. No! He entrusts them to us for safekeeping only. At any moment, without warning, He may take them all back. So it’s a shame, even a sin, to show neglect for anything Hashem Himself entrusts to us. A patch, Sarah Rachel, not only prolongs the life of a garment, but the patching demonstrates how much we appreciate everything that the Holy One, blessed be He entrusts to our keeping!”

Few people today wear patches on their garments. Patches have largely disappeared in our wealthy society. Bubbie Feiga’s lesson still applies. G-d gives us everything we have. Every object that comes into our possession is a gift from G-d and should be treated with reverence. The mystics teach that a spark of divinity is in each thing in the world, and therefore every object, every possession, should be properly honored. By prematurely discarding an old item to replace it with a new one, we show disrespect for the holy spark that resides in that object. How long should we keep a garment or other item? Each of us should decide with wisdom; there is no rule. The only rule — which we can learn from Bubbie Feiga—is to show proper care and respect for your possessions.

Years went by and Sarah Rachel went off to college. She missed her Bubbie Feiga, who was now very old. Sarah became very active in the Jewish group at her college and one Friday night she went with some friends to a rabbi’s house for a Shabbos (Sabbath) meal.

The rabbi was a bit old fashioned, and at first Sarah felt very uncomfortable. After the fish and soup were served. The rabbi began telling stories. Sarah thought, “We’re not children. Why is he telling us stories? We are college students and the stories are not appropriate for college students.”

After one particular story, there was a lively discussion around the table. Everyone heard the same story, but there were so many opinions as to the meanings of the story.

The rabbi sat back and listened to the young voices around the table for a long time and then asked, “we learn in the TaNaCH (Torah, Nevi’im, Kasuvim – Scriptures) that ‘Hashem blessed them, and He said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ (Genesis 1:28) and he continued, ‘You have given them dominion over the works of your hands’ (Psalm 8:6) and added that the Torah says, ‘Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because G-d has dealt graciously with me’ (Genesis 33:11) and ended with, ‘But above all bless your Maker, who fills you with his good gifts.’ (ben Sira (Sirach) 32:13). The rabbi took a long breath and asked what do all these verses have in common.

The college students around the table rose to the challenge and offered a lot of opinions and ideas, but the rabbi sadly shook his head. “You are all over thinking”, he said.

Sarah sat and listened and a tear formed and rolled down her cheek. As the room fell quiet, she said, “My Bubbie Feiga taught me a long time ago that everything that comes into our possession is a gift from G-d and should be treated special. She taught me that a spark of holiness is in each thing in the world, for that reason should be treated with respect.”

One of the young men, retorted, “You really believe in this G-d stuff?” Sarah answered, “You really don’t understand do you?” “Aw come on how can you believe in these stories. All this religious stuff is mythology,” the young man countered.

Sarah took a deep breath and said, “We talk about diminishing resources, environmental issues, growing pollution and non-renewable resources, but the Torah clearly teaches that we are the stewards of everything in creation. When things are destroyed, who will repair it?”

The young man responded, “Science will find the answers.” Sarah immediately answered, “Very well science has told us what the foundation of life is, so take four test tubes each filled with each of the elements of life, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and have the scientist make life.” They can’t only G-d can do that!”

Sarah Rachel spoke to the rabbi several times and visited him during Jewish holidays. One day she came to the rabbi with tears in her eyes, Bubbie Feiga died. “Rabbi” she began, “the stories you told me over the years helped me to understand my Bubbie Feiga and helped me to appreciate and grow in my beliefs. In honor of my Bubbie Feiga please call me Sora Rochel”

Many years have passed, and Sora Rochel teaches her daughter about patches.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Great Feast

Posted on Friday, 11, September, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Once an old traveler met a group of children in the marketplace who were hungry and sad.

“What is the matter, little ones?” asked the old traveler.

“We wanted to have a special meal for Shabbos!” answered the oldest child.

“Yes, that would be an oneg (delight)” said the old traveler.

“But we only one piece of bread!” said a red haired child.

“And it is a very small piece of bread!” said another child who felt he had a right to speak.

“Not big enough for even one of us!” girl noted.

All the children became quiet as they looked at the piece of bread with large eyes, and their mouths went up in the middle and down at the sides.

“Well,” said the old traveler, “suppose we have the feast just the same! I think we can manage it.”

He broke the cookie into four pieces, and gave one piece to the littlest child.

“See!” he said. “This is a piece of roast chicken. It was golden brown and crispy as could be, and small mountain of mashed potato; it must be a volcano, it smokes so. Do you see?”

“Yes!” said the littlest one; and his mouth went down in the middle and up at the corners.

The Old traveler gave a piece of bread to the next child.

“Here,” he said, “is a little pie! Outside, as you see, it is brown and crusty, with a wreath of pastry leaves round the edge and in inside of it is chicken, carrots and potatoes surrounded by a special gravy. Have you ever seen such a pie?”

“Never I did!” said the child.

“Now here,” said the old traveler to the third child, “is steaming golden soup. See how thick it is and how it smells so good. The steam rises to the very heavens.

“So it is!” exclaimed the third child.

Then the old traveler gave the last piece of bread to the oldest child.

“My friend” he said. “Just look! Here is lekach (honey cake). Look at the nuts on the and inside there are raisins, and great slices of apple. It is the most enjoyable cake I’ve ever had. “Now, when I clap my hands and count one, two, three, you must eat the feast all up. One—two—three!”

So the children ate the special meal for Shabbos all up.

“There!” said the old traveler. “Did ever you see such a special meal for Shabbos?”

“No, never we did!” said all the children together.

“But you didn’t have any!” said the oldest child..

“Oh, yes!” said the old traveler. “I had a little of everything.”

One of the children asked, “I wonder who the old traveler was?”

The oldest child smiled, “Maybe he was Eliyahu haNovi.”

Homemade Chicken and Biscuits

Ingredients

For the Chicken

2 – 3 lbs chicken pieces (bone-in) (legs and thighs work nicely)

3 cups chicken broth

1 small onion (chopped)

1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tablespoons margarine/shmaltz

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 to 1 1/2 cups frozen peas (cooked; or peas and carrots)

Dash salt (or to taste)

Dash pepper (or to taste)

For the Biscuits

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 – 2 teaspoons sugar

2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)

1/2 cup Olive Oil

¼ cup Water

Prepare the Chicken

Put the chicken in a large saucepan with the chicken broth, onion, thyme, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and continue cooking at a low simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.

Remove the chicken from the broth; reserve the broth and set aside.

Grease an 8 or 9-inch baking dish or spray it with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat the oven to 375 F.

Put the chicken in the baking dish.

Sprinkle the cooked peas or peas and carrots over the chicken in the baking dish.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the margarine/shmaltz.

Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes.

Gradually add the 2 cups of chicken broth and continue cooking until thickened, stirring frequently. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.

Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the baking dish.

Prepare the Biscuits

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, sugar, and parsley. Blend well.

With a fork, stir in oil and water until moistened.

Drop biscuit dough over the hot chicken and sauce mixture in the baking dish.

Bake the chicken and biscuits until browned, about 20 to 30 minutes.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Widow’s Apples

Posted on Thursday, 3, September, 2020Thursday, 5, October, 2023 by Rabbi

“Rabbi, holy rabbi, have mercy on me! Please, give me some money so I can have something to eat for myself and my children on Shabbos!” With these words, the woman who had burst into the rabbi’s house broke out into tears. “I don’t have a penny to buy food for my orphan children!”

“Why didn’t you come yesterday,” said the holy rabbi, “when I was giving tzedakah (charity) to all the poor people for Shabbos? Today, I don’t have even a copper coin to give you!”

”I’ve never taken money from anybody,” the woman said, “but today I had to come to you. I have a stand in the marketplace, not far from here, where I sell apples. With the money I make, I’m barely able to support myself and my children. Yesterday morning, with the little money I had, I bought a basket of apples from a peasant. I was hoping to earn enough money to buy something to eat for Shabbos. But rabbi, no one bought my apples. They say they’re no good!”

“No good!” cried the rabbi.” Chas v’chalila (Heaven forbid) someone would say that Hashem’s apples are no good? What do they mean?”

“Rabbi,” she pleaded, “I call out: ‘Apples, apples, delicious apples that have a taste like the Garden of Eden.’ But they say the apples are bad!”

The rabbi asked the poor woman where her stand was in the marketplace and told her to go back there, promising her that she would have money for what she needed for Shabbos.

A few minutes later, the buyers in the market saw that the holy rabbi was at the widow’s apple stand calling out loudly, “kum’t arein geshmak sheynim epls far Shabbos koidesh! Epls far farkoyf! kumen aun koyfn!” (Come around. Delicious, beautiful apples for the holy Shabbos! Apples for sale! Come and buy!)”

When people heard that the holy rabbi of the town was selling apples, a crowd quickly gathered at the widow’s stand. Everyone wanted to buy apples from the rabbi. In only a few minutes, all the apples were sold.

“Do you see?” said the rabbi to the woman, as he gave her the profits, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) the rabbi continued, “May you be blessed with gold and silver from the apples you sell and may your children grow strong like apple trees and always act with kindness and sweetness.”

Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise		3 medium Granny Smith/Green apples — cored, and chopped
1 tablespoon white sugar		1 cup thinly sliced celery
1 teaspoon lemon juice		½ cup chopped walnuts
⅛ teaspoon salt		½ cup raisins

Note: ½ cup dried Cranberries or dried cherries can be used in place of raisins

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.

Stir in the apples, celery, walnuts, and raisins.

Chill until ready to serve.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

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This story recipe and others can be found in the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook, We are pleased to announce that 18 (Chai – the magic number of Life) of the story recipes have been collected into the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this unique cookbook, contact us projectshalom1@aol.com

Farfel: Put the Past Behind You

Posted on Friday, 28, August, 2020Thursday, 24, August, 2023 by Rabbi

The Talmud says that Shabbos is “a semblance of Olam Haba,” a taste of the delight of the World to Come. Certainly, this refers to something that is incomparably greater than the physical delights we experience.

The Midrash cites the phrase in Genesis (2:1): “And the heaven and earth were completed,” and comments that it is with the onset of Shabbos everything in Creation had been completed and not even the slightest thing was lacking, so should a person feel when Shabbos arrives: everything is complete, there is nothing lacking. There is not the slightest carryover of concern from the previous week. Nothing in one’s life is lacking, not even the slightest thing, just as G-d’s creation was totally complete.

We may have some difficulty in imagining so blissful a state, but if we could achieve it, it would indeed be “a semblance of Olam Haba.” Our minds would then be free for total devotion to spiritual pursuits.

Although a person should always have an attitude of teshuvah, Shabbos is a particularly favorable time for forgiveness. The Talmud says that if a person observes Shabbos properly, all his sins are forgiven (Koheles Rabbah 4). Inasmuch as a person receives an additional soul (neshamah yeseirah) on Shabbos, it is appropriate that one cleanse oneself of all one’s wrongdoings in preparation for this enhanced kedushah (holiness).

To assist in experiencing this heavenly feeling, a farfel stuffing was served on Friday night, and would be referred to it as “Teshuvah Farfel.” The Yiddish word farfallen means “it is in the past, over and done with.” As the farfel stuffing was served, people would say, “Whatever was until now is farfallen,” as a reminder that we should now put the entire past behind us and not bring any concerns of the workweek into Shabbos.

In this month before Rosh Hashanah, let us hope that all can do teshuvah and be forgiven of sins. Each Shabbos brings the hope that all is farfallen – it is in the past, over and done with – so each week we start anew.

Teshuvah Farfel Stuffing

INGREDIENTS

2 large onions, diced	½ pound mushrooms, sliced
3-4 table spoons olive oil or shamltz	garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon turmeric	2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon cumin	1 pound matzo farfel
1 tablespoons fresh oregano	2 cups chicken broth/vegetable broth
1 teaspoon rubbed sage	2 eggs
1 teaspoon paprika	Kosher salt
¼ teaspoon pepper	Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13inch casserole dish.

2. Sauté onions in a large sauté pan lightly coated olive oil/shmaltz, over medium-high heat, until medium brown and very soft.

3. Add mushrooms to the pan and a bit more olive oil/shmaltz. Add spices and continue to sauté

4. Add celery and garlic to the pan and continue to cook for 3 to 5 minutes until celery begins to soften.

5. Transfer vegetables to greased pan. Add matzo farfel, broth, and slightly beaten eggs. Stir to combine. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more until lightly browned, or cool completely and freeze for up to 1 month.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Bloodless Challah and a Bread Machine Challah Recipe

Posted on Thursday, 13, August, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi kept an open house. All travelers were welcome. No one in need was ever turned away. One Friday, a non-Jewish beggar came in and asked for a piece of bread. The holy rabbi’s wife had only whole challahs in the house at that moment – challah that she had just baked l’koved Shabbos (in honor of Shabbos). She did not want to cut into one of these special challahs, but her husband urged, “Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.”

She did as her husband asked, and gave the non-Jewish beggar as much bread as he wanted to satisfy his hunger.

Sometime later, the holy rabbi had to travel along the road through a forest. He was lost in thought and was amazed at the beauty of the forest. There, he was surrounded and seized by a gang of robbers who took away everything he had. Then they marched him to their leader, who would decide whether or not to kill him.

The leader of the robber gang turned out to be the very same man to whom the holy rabbi’s wife had fed her challah! He recognized the rabbi at once, and told his men, “This holy rabbi kept me alive. Do not harm him in the least – and return everything that you have taken from him!”

The robbers did as they were ordered, and the holy rabbi was allowed to leave in peace.

When he returned home, he told his wife of his adventure and concluded by reminding her, “As I told you: ‘Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.'”

Bread Machine Challah

4 Jumbo eggs, room temperature add water to make 1cup		3 1/2 cups bread flour
3-4 Tablespoons white sugar		1 Tablespoon yeast or 1 packet of yeast
4 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil		1 egg, beaten
1 ½ teaspoons salt		1-2 tablespoon water

Directions

Place liquid ingredients into pan of the bread machine

Combine dry ingredients and then add to the liquid in the Bread Machine pan

Select Dough cycle; press Start.

After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.

Divide the dough in half. Then divide into 4 equal pieces, roll into ropes about 12 to 14 inches, and braid into a loaf. Do the same with the remaining other half. Gently put the loaves on a greased cookie sheet or bread pans, mist with water, and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm, draft free place, until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.

Brush risen loaves with egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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The Prayer of the Simple Wine Maker

Posted on Thursday, 6, August, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Yosef the merchant, the wealthy merchant, was walking past the old wooden shul (synagogue) when he heard sad crying coming from the open shul window. Forgetting where he was headed, he rushed inside and was startled to find Dovid, a sincere but unlearned man, standing in the center of the room, his face red as he recited Psalms with such energy that tears soaked the small book held in his hands.

Dovid was considered a fine wine maker in the village. He was well known throughout the area, his wine — produced only in small batches and shared privately — was treasured as Kiddush wine. Perhaps he could have earned more if he were to sell large quantities, but Dovid enjoyed making and sharing wine that would be blessed and bless those who drank it.

This was the first time Yosef the merchant had seen Dovid pray with such feeling. When he reached the verse “My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You,” his voice cracked, the words stuck in his throat. His body trembled with emotion and tears flowed unrestrained. Scrunching his face with concentration, Dovid uttered each word again and again. He appeared to be begging for his life.

“Ribbono Shel Olam – Master of the Universe!” he suddenly yelled. “Don’t let my family be hurt … Please, I beg of you!”

Rooted to the spot, Yosef the merchant watched in puzzled silence. And though it took some time, he waited till Dovid’s crying dwindled to sniffles before addressing him.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

Dovid sighed weakly. “Less than an hour ago, I heard banging on my door and opened to a government official. Police, he told me, were on their way to raid my house. They’d received an anonymous report charging me with running an illegal wine business, and would arrest me if they found any evidence at all.”

“Who do you think told them?” asked Yosef the merchant.

“I suspect it’s the man who used to do small jobs around my house,” Dovid said with a sad expression. “We had a fierce argument over something not long ago. I ended up sending him out of my house. He swore revenge, and considering it an empty threat, I dismissed his words and forgot about the whole thing. It makes sense now. Since he knew my house pretty well and would certainly be able to make it look as if I have a whole wine business going.

“I recovered somewhat from the initial shock and managed to tell my wife the horrible news before running to the holy rabbi’s house to seek his advice and blessing. I was sorely distressed and saddened when they told me he wasn’t home. Apparently, he’s out of town. My head swirled. Without his prayers, what was left for me to do? So, I rushed to the shul to beg for G d’s mercy. If I am to go to jail, at least He should spare my wife and children. A jail sentence for a crime like this would be a very long one, indeed…”

As this took place, the police had been marching along to Dovid’s house.

Meanwhile, after he had slammed the door and disappeared in a panic, his wife hastily improvised a countermeasure of some sort. She brought in armfuls of straw from the yard and flung them down the steps leading to the tiny basement winery, sprinkling some around the door as well. Once everything was covered with straw, she bolted the basement door shut.

Moments after she had finished, she looked up to see the evil accuser leading the police almost pompously. All they had to do was follow the direction of his pointing finger and discover the wine. The seriousness of the situation, together with sheer terror, crashed down on her, and she felt overpowered. She hunkered in a dark corner of the house, muttering a prayer and hoping for the best.

The officers, their eyes scrutinizing the walls, trooped inside through the house and fanned out in a search. The accuser kept silent and watched the police search the house fruitlessly. With childlike impatience, he gestured toward the cellar door.

“Look over there! The wine’s just down that door,” he panted, eyes glinting maliciously.

The chief steeled his jaw, peeved at the interruption. “Quiet. Let the police do their job.”

The accuser’s shoulders sagged, his frustration mounting as he watched the officers overturning the house, steadily eliminating the potential hiding places, yet still failing to uncover traces of illicit wine manufacturing. House completely swept, nothing was left for them to do other than leave. When the accuser saw the officers turn towards the door, he once again failed to contain himself.

“The Jew is hiding his wine behind that door! I swear to you!”

The chief shot the angry accuser another smoldering look. He walked over to the door and opened it. At the sight of the straw strewn down the stairs, he erupted furiously.

“Don’t you know that straw interferes with fermentation?” the chief roared at the accuser, who winced with every word. “I’ve had enough of your lies. Do you seriously think the Jew would ruin his entire inventory of wine with straw?!”

When Yosef the merchant would retell this story, he emphasized, “Look how this simple Jewish wine maker instinctively reacted. When confronted with disaster, it never occurred to him to hire a lawyer or approach a public official. For him, it was either the holy rabbi or the shul!”

Pymet – Grape Mead

Small Batch – 1 gallon

1-3 lb honey

1 packet of wine wine yeast

Pure grape juice to make 1 gallon

Equipment:

1-gallon fermentation vessel

Method:

Sanitize your vessel (If you were to be using any tools — such as a funnel to get the ingredients into the vessel — you would want to sanitize them as well.)

Add honey and grape juice to your fermenter.

Pitch/add the yeast according to instructions.

Add yeast to the fermenter and mix well.

Make sure there is water in the airlock so you can monitor the bubbles (the visual bi-product of fermentation) escaping.

Wait approximately two to three months and your mead will be ready (the bubbles will have all but stopped). Depending on the type of yeast you use, it may take less or more time.

Aging the Pymet will improve the taste and body of the Mead-Wine

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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ST5 The Shabbos Candles

Posted on Wednesday, 25, July, 2018Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A special Shabbos story that will touch you very spirit. A little girl, Shabbos candles and her mother learn the beauty and warmth of Shabbos. Listen and share your thoughts and comments

If you like, read The Shabbos Candles – A Light of Faith

Yossele l’Koved Shabbos

Posted on Tuesday, 21, January, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There once was a young man who wanted to study Torah with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all of his strength. He was honored to study with some very holy rabbis. Sadly with all of his learning, something was missing. The young man felt empty, it was as though the fire was not burning very brightly in his studies. He decided that he would search to find a holy teacher. Not someone to give him more information, more details on the finer points of Jewish law and ritual, but a teacher who could show him how to see the beauty in the world around him and could touch him to his very core – his soul. So the young man set out on his journey to find a holy teacher who would show him how to reach the highest places in the heavens, yet still embrace the world around him.

The young man was so hungry to find the right teacher, that he traveled from town to town speaking to every rabbi he could find. Many were very learned, had beautiful rituals and were holy. They taught him much Torah, but not any of them were able to touch the deepest parts of his soul.

One day, he traveled to a small village in there he saw the newly arrived village rabbi, a veil of holiness surrounded him and the young man knew that this was the holy teacher he was looking for. Still, the young man wanted to make sure that this holy rabbi was indeed the teacher he was hoping for and so he decided he would wait for a sign.

Now in the small village, every Jewish person was on a very high level. Everyone observed Shabbos, ate only kosher food, and prayed from their hearts. Yet there was one person, Yossele Trayger who most people felt was just a simple person. He could barely read or write, he knew how to pray a little and could recite a few Psalms. When the young man saw him, he knew that he was special.

Yossele Trayger was a giant of a man with bulging muscles. Because of his size and strength he was a porter. All day long he would stand in the marketplace and help people carry their bundles, but he did so much more than merely carrying packages and heavy boxes.

He would meet a woman shopping for provisions for her household, on Sunday, and she would ask him to carry all of her purchases to her home. Yossele Trayger would lift up the heavy bags and put them on his shoulder effortlessly, as he began to carry them he would ask: “please forgive me for asking, but do you think there’ll be some of this food left for Shabbos, l’Koved Shabbos, for the honor of the Holy Shabbos?”

The woman would look at him and think for a moment and then, maybe just to make Yossele feel good or maybe because it was the truth, the woman would answer kindly: “you know, I’ve bought a lot of food, even for my large family. I’m sure there will be plenty left for Shabbos.”

Yossele would start to smile and then, it seemed like he was filled with a holy light. He would lift the packages and bundles higher onto his shoulder, almost as though he wanted to lift them to the heavens. Then he would begin to hum a tune and very soon he would burst out singing as loud as he could on the way to the woman’s house:

“L’K-o-oved Shabbos, oy, L’K-o-oved Shabbos, oy, L’K-o-oved Shabbos!”

People along the way would just look and sometimes smile as they watched Yossele Trayger pass them.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Yossele never carried anything without first asking about Shabbos. By Wednesday and Thursday, he didn’t even bother to ask, that late in the week. People were already thinking about Shabbos. On Friday, he would dart around the marketplace carrying anything and everything to all the Jewish homes. The whole city seemed to echo with his singing:

“L’K-o-oved Shabbos, oy, L’K-o-oved Shabbos, oy, L’K-o-oved Shabbos!”

Yossele Trayger’s heart was filled with warmth and joy, but sadly people can be very cruel and mean-spirited. Many people in the small village made fun of Yossele’s singing and even began to consider him nothing more than a joke. They called him crazy and even made up a nickname to tease him: “Yossele l’Koved Shabbos”

The young man watched Yossele all week, and even though people laughed at him, the young man felt that Yossele was one of the holiest and truest of people in the small village.

Shabbos was approaching the young man determined that he would watch the holy rabbi at the end of Friday night services. The rabbi had a custom of greeting everyone by saying: “Gut Shabbos.” The young man wanted to see if the rabbi really greeted everyone in the shul. If the holy rabbi could see how special Yossele was and paid attention to him, gave him honor, the young man would know that he was the holy teacher he was looking for. If instead, the rabbi ignored Yossele like everyone else usually did, and didn’t bother to say anything to him, the young man would know for sure that this rabbi was not the teacher he was looking for and he would have to journey further to find his holy teacher.

After the Friday night prayers were over, everyone rushed up greet the rabbi by saying “Gut Shabbos.” The young man noticed that Yossele did not join in the crowd around the rabbi, but instead stood in the corner of the old wooden shul and just watched. He looked so sad, so alone and totally broken. The young man watched him as a tear formed in his eye as he realized that Yossele was probably so used to being insulted and abused as the butt of jokes that he could not believe that a holy rabbi would want to speak to him. Slowly the young man walked across the shul and stood by Yossele.

The holy rabbi finished greeting all of the people who crowded around him. He looked around the shul and noticed two people who were standing in the corner whom he had not spoken to yet, Yossele and the young student. The rabbi walked across the shul to the corner and extended his hand to give a Shabbos greeting.

Yossele was so shocked he couldn’t move, but the young man pushed him towards the village’s new rabbi. The young man watched carefully to see what the rabbi would do. Very slowly, Yossele eased toward the rabbi and watched as the rabbi took the holy hand that carried everything l’Koved Shabbos.

The holy rabbi closed his eyes stood very still. He squeezed Yossele’s hand tightly and said, very softly: “my holy friend, would you please tell me your name?”

Yossele was so shy and so uncertain, he couldn’t even look at the rabbi. He just hung his head and mumbled, “um my name… um my name, is Yossele.”

“Is that your whole name, or do you maybe have another name also?”

Yossele was so ashamed, he bowed his head even more. “I ah well um sometimes people call me… I mean, they’re only joking, but they call me…. Yossele l’Koved Shabbos.”

“Why do they call you that?”

Yossele was so upset he could hardly speak. His voice dropped to a whisper: “because… because… because when I carry their bundles and packages. I always sing l’Koved Shabbos.”

The holy rabbi’s eyes filled with tears. He held Yossele’s hand and looked him in the eye and gently said to him: “Yossele, I really, really envy you. To have such an exalted name – l’Koved Shabbos – and for such a holy reason. What an honor. To meet such a Jewish person that lives what he believes.

The young man found his teacher.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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In the city of Marrakesh there was a boy named Chaim, He always meant well, but somehow found himself in many adventures. He was not the most learned of his brothers and sisters and people sometimes took advantage of him.

All week Chaim and his family looked forward to Shabbat. The best foods were prepared, and the family gathered around the table to talk Torah and sing zimerot together.

It was Friday morning when Chaim’s mother sent him to buy a fish for the Shabbat meal. The fishmonger showed Chaim different types of fish he had for sale and told him the specialties of the fish. Chaim picked out a nice whitefish for his mother to prepare for Shabbat dinner.

As he left the market a cat began to follow him, so he walked faster. Suddenly he tripped and the fish flew out of his hands and the cat snatched the fish and disappeared with it.

Chaim was angry, but then smiled. He thought to himself, I know how to get even with the cat, and with that he licked the recipe off the back of his hand, so at least the cat would not know how to prepare the fish.

When Chaim got home, he told his mother what had happened. She sighed and just said “Gam zu l’tova (this too is for the best) and went on preparing for Shabbat.

Moroccan Shabbat Fish

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1/2 to1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 tomatoes, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

6 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets or other white fish

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons paprika

1 cup water

1 tablespoon chicken/consommé bouillon

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

Step 2

Layer the sliced red peppers and sliced tomatoes in the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the tilapia fillets on top of the vegetables.

Step 3

Combine the paprika, chicken bouillon, cayenne, salt, pepper, olive oil, and water and mix well. Pour the seasoning mixture over the fish. Sprinkle with parsley.

Step 4

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

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If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

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==========

It is told of a Jewish woman who carefully prepared food for each meal for Shabbos and Yom Tov with such holiness that if you ate the food she cooked, you left the table healed.

He explained, “I only came here to bless your wife. Her kindness has made a great impression in heaven. But we wanted to give her a final test to see if she was worthy of the great blessing we have in store for her. She passed the test.”

What was the great blessing one may ask? It was the blessing of healing. That is why the food the holy woman prepared and served healed whoever ate it.”

Food that is prepared and served with love can heal the sick and revive the weary. The holy woman’s food, offered with such self-sacrifice, contained a heavenly blessing. This quality is not unique to this tzaddekes (holy woman).

There are other stories in which the healing powers of a holy woman come through the food she serves. And many women who prepare and serve food to their family put in their healing love as a main ingredient.

The holiness of Jewish women is hidden within their daily actions in cooking, giving tzedakah (acts of charity) and many ither mitzvahs. King David reminded us when he wrote, “kol k’voda bas melech p’nima, “(all the glory of a princess is within. (Psalm 45:14).”

Shabbosdike Stuffed Chicken Quarters

2-3 lbs Chicken quarters

1 stalk celery chopped

1 egg

1/8 tsp pepper

1 Cup Water or broth

1 Cup Farfel

1 sm to med onion finely chopped

2 Tbs oil or shmaltz

½ tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Thyme

2 tsp Parsley

1 tsp Rosemary

½ tsp Paprika

½ tsp Sage

Spices for Chicken

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Sauté onion and celery in oil or

Add spices and cook a few minutes longer

Stir in farfel

Beat egg with water or broth

Add to farfel

Let stuffing rest for 5 to 15 minutes

Loosen skin on the chicken

Spoon the stuffing under the skin and return the skin to its original position

Put in pan – skin side up

Brush with oil and season to taste

Bake covered 30 minutes

Remove cover and bake until skin is golden brown (30 to 45 minutes)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

Please share this story with family and friends and let us know what you think or feel about the stories in a comment or two.

Like us on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

Please share this story with others

An old grandmother, Bubbie Feiga, taught her grand-daughter, Sarah Rachel, how to patch a worn garment. At the same time, she taught her beloved grand-daughter a lesson in mussar (religious values).

Years went by and Sarah Rachel went off to college. She missed her Bubbie Feiga, who was now very old. Sarah became very active in the Jewish group at her college and one Friday night she went with some friends to a rabbi’s house for a Shabbos (Sabbath) meal.

After one particular story, there was a lively discussion around the table. Everyone heard the same story, but there were so many opinions as to the meanings of the story.