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of our past are prepackaged, our traditions are a vague memory, the teachings and beliefs have been left as archaic and outdated, and the stories are forgotten.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.

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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.

“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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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

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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

The Shalom Bayis Kugel and Recipe

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

A husband and wife came to holy rabbi. They’d had a big argument and said very hurtful things to one another. They were both angry and sad and wanted a divorce.

“My wife,” complained the man, “every week she makes for Shabbos a delicious kugel. I love that kugel! All week I work very hard, just to enjoy that kugel! When I just think of that kugel, my mouth starts watering . . . But what does this foolish woman do to me? She torments me! After I recite the kiddush, do I get the kugel? No-o-o-o. First, she serves the gefilte fish. Then the soup. Then the chicken. And the potatoes. Then a couple of other dishes, and then I’m full; I can’t possibly take one more bite. Then she brings in the kugel! Now, shouldn’t I divorce her?”

The husband went on to say lot more that people normally don’t say in front of a rabbi.

The wife explained that in her parents’ home, it was always done this way. She wouldn’t budge.

So the holy rabbi decided that from now on, she should make two kugels: one to be eaten right after kiddush, and one to serve after the fish and the soup and the chicken and the potatoes. The couple left, reconciled.

From that day on, the holy rabbi always had two kugels at his Shabbos table—one right after kiddush, and another one after the main course. They called it the Shalom Bayis (“peace in the home”) kugel.

Vegetable Kugel Recipe

Ingredients:

2 large onions, diced		4 carrots, shredded
3-4 Tablespoons oil or shmaltz		8 eggs
4 stalks celery, diced		salt to taste
2 green peppers, diced		pepper to taste
4 stalks celery, diced		1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced or chopped (optional)
8 large Idaho potatoes (4-5 lbs.), grated

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Sauté the onions in oil until golden. Add the celery, peppers, mushrooms (if using), and carrots. Sauté until soft.

3. Place the eggs into a mixing bowl. Beat by hand and add salt and pepper to taste.

4. In a food processor, grate the potatoes using the fine shredder. Transfer to the egg mixture. Add the sautéed vegetables. Mix thoroughly.

5. Pour into a 9″x13″ pan. Bake for 40-60 minutes, until browned and crusty.

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 Generous Wife

Posted on Tuesday, 18, August, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

There was a very wealthy merchant who was very learned in Torah. He had a beautiful daughter named Adina. She was like her father, intelligent and wise. She was very quiet, but above all else, she loved to help the poor. She welcomed every beggar or person in need who came to the door and sat them down to a fine table filled with good food, and as they left, she gave them a generous donation of money to help them on their way.

A beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant always attracts young men who want her hand in marriage. Among Adina’s suitors was a certain wealthy man who owned many flocks and herds. Adina agreed to marry him, and the wedding celebrations lasted the customary seven days. What Adina did not know was that as kind, generous, and charitable as she was, her new husband was mean, miserly, and selfish. In his whole life, he had never once given even a dry crumb of bread to a poor person.

One day, a ragged beggar appeared at their door. He had not eaten in two days and was very hungry and tired. Adina received him warmly, as was her way. “Welcome to our home,” she said. “Come sit at our table and eat with us!”

The moment her husband saw the man, he shouted, “Don’t you dare enter this room! Get out of my house this minute. No dirty beggar eats at the table with me!”

Adina was shocked and very hurt. Much to her shame she now knew what her husband was like. So she left him, went back to her father’s house, and was divorced from him.

After that, other suitors came to ask for Adina’s hand. But as soon as they heard about how charitable she was, they left. “She’ll give away all my money.” one cried, “Should I eat at the same table with beggars? Never” others would say. No one wanted to marry her.

One day a man came and when he was told how Adina was so charitable, he said, “What could be better than a charitable woman with a good heart?” So the two of them were married.

One evening, they were sitting at the table, dining, and there was a knock at the door. When Adina got up from the table and opened the door, she saw in front of her a beggar—weak, tired, and hungry from much walking. As she looked closer at his face, she gave out a cry and fainted. She had recognized him: It was her first husband, the miser, who had lost all his money and was now begging from door to door!

When she recovered, her new husband revealed to her why he loved her generous nature. He said, “I was the beggar whom your first husband threw out of the house.” He had received a new start in life and had become wealthy.

Reflecting on what had happened, Adina replied, “Great are the deeds of the Holy One, blessed be He. Who raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the needy out of the dunghill” (Psalms 113:7).

“To him who has the means and refuses the needy, the Holy One says: Bear in mind fortune is a wheel.” (Tanchuma Mishpatim #8) A husband who complains about a holy woman’s excessive charity might not realize that he too may one day be in need.

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 Confused Student

Posted on Wednesday, 6, May, 2020Monday, 15, January, 2024 by Rabbi

Tam and Chacham taught many students and listened to all who came to them for guidance. One student left his studies to help his struggling family.

Some time passed and no one heard from the student. In time he was forgotten. One day the student came to visit his old teachers Tam and Chacham.

He explained how hard it was to leave his studies, but he found a well paying job in a field that involved mixing freely with men and women in a relaxed atmosphere. He went on to say, “You would be proud of me, I think of your lessons all through my working hours, and never once had any inappropriate thoughts.”

Chacham thought for a moment and said, “From a woman did sin originate, and because of her we must all die. (ben Sira 25:24) By preventing yourself from getting involved with the people at your job, you may actually live longer.”

The student added, “I don’t talk to the women nor notice what they wear. The men ask me all the time to eat with them, but their food and what they talk about is not kosher.” The student noticed that Tam shook his head.

Chacham responded,” we learn that ’whoever engages in too much conversation with women, brings evil on himself, neglects the study of Torah and in the end will inherit gehennom’ (Pirke Avos 1:5). I’d say you learned your lessons well.”

Tam quietly asked the student for his name. The student was taken aback. His rabbi and teacher certainly must remember his name. Tam waited a moment and then said, “You have listened, but not learned ’The Holy One, Blessed be He created all things in accordance with His wisdom and whatever He created cannot possibly be shameful or ugly’ (Iggeres haKodesh 13th cent.) Please give me your mother’s name so I can make a proper Mi Shebeirach (a prayer for healing) for you.’ “

The student was confused. He felt well and he thought to himself why would his teacher want to make a Mi Shebeirach for him?

Tam saw the confusion in the face of his student and answered, “I am an old man. Yet, I can hardly walk down the street from my house without fighting off some unwanted thought. You claim that as a young man in the prime of life, you entertain no unholy thoughts. Surely there must be something wrong with you! I will make a Mi Shebeirach for you to have a refuah sheleima (complete recovery)!”

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 Seder

Posted on Wednesday, 8, April, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Sima woke as the light of the new day shined in her window. She was still tired from cleaning the house for Pesach (Passover) the day before. She gathered her clothes to take to the river to wash. Her daughter Zehava followed behind humming a song.

It had been a hard year for the young widow, Sima, who missed her husband badly. sickness ravaged the village that winter and she helped many anyway she could. Sadly, many died.

Zehava asked her mother when they would start cooking for the seder meal. Sima just sighed as she did not have any matzah, wine or food for the seder. So, she sadly went to the river to wash clothes so that she and her daughter could at least welcome the holiday with clean clothes.

“Ima, please tell me the story of Pesach (Passover)” asked Zehava. “Not now my precious daughter but tonight” answered Sima. Her daughter walked and played along the bank of the river where flowers were starting to appear, and the trees were budding. It was a beautiful spring day, but Sima was so sad.

Zehava began to play in the water, cupping the water and then letting it slowly run out of her hands back into the river. She did it again and again. “Ima, why are you so sad today? It is right before Pseach a happy holiday.” asked Zehava, Sima looked at her daughter and remembered when she was a girl and her mother always found a way to be happy at holiday time no matter how hard things were. “I’m sad because we have nothing to prepare for Pesach and no one to share with us” Sima tearfully answered.

“You know, I learned that sadness is an enemy that can destroy a lot of things.” Zehava said. “Oh, to be a little girl again with few worries. To see the good around us and to just play” Sima responded.

Zehava continued playing in the water, “Every day when I pray I say ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies’ (Psalm 23:5), she held her cupped hands up high and as the water trickled down she sad “my cup overflows.”

“Ima, you help everyone who needs help even though we are very poor. One thing though, we are so full of mitzvos (good deeds) that they can’t fit into any treasure chest.”

“Zehava, my sweet child you remind me of something my mother told me a long time ago ‘He lifts up the soul and makes the eyes sparkle; he gives health and life and blessing.’ (Ben Sira 34:20) The sparkle in your eyes makes me appreciate the gift the Holy One, blessed be He gave to me.”

Zehava ran over and hugged her mother and they both smiled.

In the distance Zehava saw someone walking along the bank of the river. The person seemed to be struggling. As they got closer, Zehava saw it was an old woman, older than anyone she had even seen. The old woman having trouble walking.

As the old woman neared, Sima and Zehava invited her to rest on the riverbank with them. The old woman asked if she could join them for the seder. Sima began to cry as she explained they did not have any matzah, wine or food for the seder. The old woman answered, “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you (Isaiah 66:13) may you be blessed in all your actions and may you celebrate the holy days with happiness,”

The old woman told them she was very tired, and Zehava asked, “Ima, can this old woman sleep in my bed until she is ready to go on her way?” “That’s a good idea” Sima answered as she told the old woman to go to the house behind them.

The old woman looked at Zehava and smiled, “You shall understand the Pesach (Passover) story much better than most people for you are truly a special girl.” She took a deep breath and continued, “The blessing of Hashem is the reward of the pious, and quickly He causes his blessing to flourish. (Ben Sira 11:22). Follow in your mother’s ways and be kind to all who have needs.”

The old woman went into the house while Sima continued with her laundry and Zehava played in the water. After some time Sima and Zehava started back towards their house when they noticed a strange light. Zehava ran to the door and called to her mother, “Ima, the house is filled with matzah, wine and so much food. There’s a white tablecloth and the candlesticks are ready for Pesach.”

Sima gasped at what she saws and went to check on the old woman but could not find her. Zehava ran out the door and saw the old woman walking down the road. The old woman looked over her shoulder, smiled and said, “I have been walking for countless years and may you have a kosher and joyous Pesach (Passover).”

Sima and Zehava started to cook and that night had many guests for there seder. Sima told everyone about the mysterious old woman. No one had seen her or had met her.

At the end of the seder after everyone had left, Zehava turned to her mother and said, “This has been the most special seder we have ever had.” Her mother answered, “Yes it has, but I will I know who that old woman was.” Zehava, with a twinkle in her eye added, “It’s not every seder that we are visited by two holy guests.” “Zehava, what are you talking about?” “ima we were visited by Serach bas Asher (Search, the daughter of Asher) and Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet)

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)

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The Red Slipper: A Jewish Cinderella Story

Posted on Sunday, 5, January, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Raizel Feige was a sweet little girl, with beautiful green eyes, soft pink cheeks and glorious dark copper hair. Her mother died the day she was born, but her grandmother looked after her with such tender care that Raizel Feige regarded her as her mother. She was very happy. All day long she sang, whether in the house or the forest that surrounded it. Her voice was so sweet that the birds gathered on the trees to listen to her and to encourage her to continue, by daintily chirruping whenever she stopped singing.

Cheerfully Raizel Feige performed all the little duties her grandmother called upon her to do, and on Shabbos and holidays she was allowed to wear a beautiful pair of red leather slippers, her father’s gift to her on her first birthday. Neither she nor her father knew it, but the slippers were truly blessed and grew to fit her feet as she grew.

Raizel Feige was only a child and so did not know that slippers don’t usually grow. Her grandmother knew the secret of the slippers, but she did not tell, and her father had become too moody and too deeply absorbed in his own thoughts and affairs to notice anything.

One day, Raizel Feige returned from the woods to find her grandmother gone and three strange women in the house. She stopped suddenly in the midst of her singing and her cheeks turned pale, for she did not like the appearance of the strangers.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I am your new mother,” answered the eldest of the three, “and these are my daughters, your two new sisters.”

Raizel Feige trembled with fear. They were all three so unpleasant, she missed her grandmother and so she began to cry.

Her new sisters laughed and made fun of her and would have beaten her had not her father appeared. He spoke kindly, telling her he had married again, because he was lonely and that her step-mother and step-sisters would be good to her. Sadly, Raizel Feige knew different. She quickly went to her own little room and hid her slippers that were very special to her..

“They forced my grandmother go away and they will take from me my beautiful slippers,” she cried.

After that, Raizel Feige stopped singing. She became very quiet and no longer smiled. The birds could not understand. They followed her through the woods, but she was silent, as if she had been stricken dumb, and she always looked like she was about to cry.

She was forced to collect firewood, to draw water from the well. Everyday she struggled with the heavy bucket whose weight made her arms and her back hurt. Her arms were covered with bruises because her cruel and selfish step-sisters did not hesitate to beat her. Often they went out to parties, or to dances, and on these occasions she had to act as their maid and help them to dress. Raizel Feige did not mind; she was only happy when they were out of the house. Then only did she sing softly to herself, and the birds came to listen.

In this way many unhappy years passed.

Once, when her father was away from home, her step-sisters went off to a wedding. They told her not to forget to draw water from the well, and warned her that if she forgot, as she did the last time, they would beat her without mercy when they returned.

Even though she was tired, Raizel Feige went out in the darkness to the well to draw water. She lowered the bucket, but the cord broke and the pail fell to the bottom of the well. She ran back home for a long stick with a hook at the end of it to recover the bucket, and as she put it into the water she sang:

Now it so happened that a sleeping spirit was at the bottom of the well. He could only be awakened by an invitation, and although Raizel Feige did not know it, the words she uttered, which she had once heard her grandmother use, were the right words.

The spirit awoke, and he was so delighted with the sweet voice that he promptly decided to help the girl whom he saw peering down into the water. He fastened the bucket to the stick and, taking some jewels from a treasure that he was the guarding, he put them inside.

“Oh, how beautiful,” cried Raizel Feige when she saw the glittering gems. “They are ever so much nicer than those my sisters put on to go to the ball.”

Then she sat thinking for a while and a bright idea came into her head.

“I will give these jewels to my sisters,” she said. “Perhaps they will be kinder to me.”

She waited impatiently until the sisters returned from the wedding and immediately told them. For a moment they were too dazed to speak when they saw the sparkling precious stones. Then they looked at one another and asked how she came by them. Raizel Feige told them of the words she had sung.

“Ah, we thought so,” said the sisters, to her horror. “The jewels are ours. We hid them in the well for safety. You have stolen them.”

In vain Raizel Feige protested. Her sisters would not listen. They beat her severely, told her to hurry off to bed, and then, snatching the bucket, they hurried off to the well. They lowered the bucket and sang the words that Raizel Feige had sung. At least they thought they sang; but their voices were harsh. The sleeping spirit awoke again, but he did not like the croaking sound the sisters made.

“Ha, ha!” he laughed. “I will teach you to disturb my sleep with hideous noises and shall punish such pranks played on me. Here are some more croakers,” and he filled the bucket with slimy toads and frogs.

The sisters were so enraged that they ran back home and dragged poor Raizel Feige from her bed.

“You brat, you thief,” screamed one.

“You cheat,” exclaimed the other. “Off you go. Get out, you don’t deserve to stay in this house.”

Raizel Feige was too much taken by surprise to say anything. It was an outrage to turn her out of her father’s house while he was away on a journey, but the thought came to her that she could hardly be less happy living alone in the woods.

She had only time to snatch her pretty red slippers, and as soon as she was out of sight of the house she put them on. It made her feel less miserable. The sun was now rising and when its rays shone on her she began to sing. With her old friends, the birds, twittering all about her, she felt quite happy.

She walked much farther into the forest than ever before. When she grew tired there was always a pleasant shady nook where she could rest; when she became hungry, there were fruit trees in abundance; and when she was thirsty she always came to a spring of clear, fresh water. The blessed slippers guided her. All day long she wandered, and when toward evening she noticed her slippers were muddy she took them off to clean. And then darkness fell. It began to rain and she grew frightened. She crouched under a tree until she noticed a light some short distance away. She got up and walked toward it.

When quite close, she saw that the light came from a cave dwelling. An old woman came out to meet her. It was her grandmother, but so many years had passed that Raizel Feige did not recognize her. Her grandmother, however, at once knew her. “Come in, my child, and take shelter from the rain,” she said kindly, and Raizel Feige was only too glad to accept the invitation.

The inside of the cave was quite cozy, and Raizel Feige, who was almost completely exhausted, quickly fell fast asleep. She awoke with a start.

“My pretty red slippers,” she cried. “Where are they?”

She put her hand in the pocket of her tattered dress, but could only find one.

“I must have lost the other,” she sobbed. “I must go out and look for it.”

“No, no,” said her grandmother. “You cannot do that. A storm is raging.”

Raizel Feige peered out through the door of the cave and drew back in fear as she saw the lightning flash and heard the thunder roar. She cried herself to sleep again, and this time was awakened by voices. She feared it might be her sisters who had discovered her hiding place and had come to drag her forcibly back home again. So she crept into a corner of the cave and listened intently.

A man was speaking.

“Do you know to whom this red slipper belongs?” he asked. “I found it in the forest.”

Raizel Feige was on the point of rushing out to regain her lost slipper when her grandmother’s loud voice restrained her.

“No, no, I know not,” she repeated again and again, and at length the man left.

Her grandmother came back into the cave and said, “I am sorry, Raizel Feige, but for all I knew, he might be a messenger from your cruel sisters; and, of course, I cannot let anyone take you back to them.”

Next day, the man called again, this time with several attendants. Again, Raizel Feige concealed herself.

“I am a holy man’s son, and wealthy,” said the man. “I must find the wearer of this shoe. Only a graceful and beautiful girl can wear such a wonderful slipper.”

Raizel Feige did not know whether to be more frightened or pleased, when her grandmother told her the man was very handsome and of noble bearing.

He came every day, each time with more retainers, and, finally, he arrived mounted on a horse with a hundred and one followers, all mounted as he was.

“The girl I seek is here,” he said. “Deny it no longer. My servants have searched the forest and the whole region. One is prepared to swear he heard a young girl singing yesterday.”

Raizel Feige saw that concealment was no longer possible. She liked the man’s voice, and she stepped out bravely, wearing her one slipper.

The stranger, bowing low before her, held out the other, and Raizel Feige took it and put it on. It fitted perfectly.

“Many girls have tried to put on that shoe,” said the young man. “but all have failed. ‘Grace is false, Beauty is vain; but a G-d fearing woman should be praised’ (Proverbs 31:30) I have searched long and hard for a woman of strng faith and beauty. And I have sworn to make the wearer of this wonderous shoe my bride. I am a holy man’s son, and you shall be a princess in my home.”

So Raizel Feige left the cave with her grandmother, and mounting a horse was led through the forest to her new home where she knew nothing but happiness and the days of her sufferings were quite forgotten. And always she wore her blessed red slippers.

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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Bentching Shabbos Licht Saves a Family

Posted on Friday, 1, November, 2019Friday, 25, August, 2023 by Rabbi

Bentching licht, kindling the Holy Lights before Shabbos, brings a healing into the world. The Holy One, blessed be He gave to our holy mothers and sisters the mitzvah of bringing the light of Shabbos into the home and community. Each week as the wicks are carefully prepared the anticipation of Shabbos kodesh (the Holy Sabbath) spreads throughout the house. Such little lights truly make a difference. You may ask, “Isn’t Shabbos itself such a great light? Isn’t Shabbos, as the Talmud says, a torch? Why do you need a little candle?” But you see, you are asking with the mind of six days of the week. Shabbos is indeed a great light, but the little candle, the little fire is so precious, so precious before G-d.

When our women and girls kindle lights, at that one moment, there’s no wall between them and the Holy One, blessed be He. There is no wall between them and their husbands, brothers and their children. There is no wall between them and all of the people. There is no wall between them and the whole world. What a holy moment….

You know, sadly enough, today we’re living in a different world. Sadly enough, so many marriages break up, so many hearts are broken, so many windows are just knocked out. Not so long ago this hardly ever happened.

One day the holy rabbi was told that the wife of one of his students had moved back to her parents. He was so heartbroken, he called the woman and this is what he said, “I want you to know, your husband loves you so much. He is up all night in the synagogue, reciting the Psalms and praying that you should come back to him, because he loves you so much. So I’m begging you, please, please, please, go back to your husband who loves you.

The young woman with a tear in her eye answered, “Rabbi, holy rabbi, let it be clear to you, I didn’t leave my husband because I don’t love him. I love him so much it causes be so much pain to be away from him. Sadly, the Holy One, blessed be He didn’t bless us yet with children, and a house without children is more destroyed than the Holy Temple. A house without laughter, without crying of children, is so lonely, so empty. I couldn’t bare it anymore, so I went back to my parents’ home. Holy rabbi if you want me to go back to my husband, bless me with children.” She was a very clever woman, so added said, “Holy rabbi, if you bless me with children, bless me to have a son like you.”

The holy rabbi just smiled and he said to her, “I’ll be so happy to bless you to have a son like me, but you have to promise me something: If you will be a mother like my mother, then you will have children like me.”

One Friday she was crying so much, and I guess she bent over the candles, and her tears fell on the candles. When she opened her eyes, it was already Shabbos. There were no more candles. The tears extinguished the fire. My mother said, “Ribbono shel olam (Master of the World), Heiligeh Tatteh in Himmel (Holy Father in Heaven), I can’t live without the light of Shabbos. Master of the World, Master of the World, Master of the World, how can I have Shabbos without my Shabbosdike licht (Shabbos light)? But it’s already Shabbos, so I’m begging You, Master of the World, please You, You Master of the World, rekindle my light, rekindle my Shabbosdike Licht.”

The holy rabbi said to the woman, “I swear to you, I saw a hand coming down from Heaven and kindling the lights of Shabbos.”

The holy rabbi gave his blessing to the young woman and she went home to her husband. Each Friday night as the sun was setting the young woman would welcome the heiligeh Shabbos (holy Sabbath) with prayers from her heart and one Shabbos before the year was over crying was heard from her home – a child was born.

A Gut’n Shabbos – Good Shabbos – Shabbat Shalom

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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ST25 Alexander the Great and the Country of Women

Posted on Wednesday, 26, December, 2018Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Listen to the short story

Alexander the Great and the Country of Women

A lesson of wisdom

strength of arms or wisdom of compassion

Read this Story by clicking the Title below

Alexander the Great and the Country of Women

The tale is told that the mighty Alexander the Great learned wisdom from the queen of a country of women and left a message on the city gate”

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Special Chanukah Gift

Posted on Wednesday, 5, December, 2018Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Chanukah is a time to celebrate the freedom of faith. A war was fought to defend the right just to remain true to Judaism over 2100 years ago. Today we accept the basic story of Chanukah, but have forgotten the many miracles. The wonders and beauty of faith are many times overlooked, but they are present at all times.

On the third day of Hanukkah, there was a bris (circumcision) in the small wooden shul. The rabbi was the sandak—being honored to hold the baby on his lap—and he told a story at the bris.

A woman who was married for fifteen years and was not blessed with children. She went from rabbi to rabbi, from tzaddik to tzaddik, from one to the other to ask for a blessing, for them to pray for her, but still she had no child. She did not know what to do with herself.

She was very careful to light the Shabbos candles every week, welcoming the holiness of the day into her house. There was always food in her kitchen for those less fortunate. Her bright smile hid the pain and sadness that was deep in her heart.

Without children, she had a lot of time, and so she helped wherever she could. One day she discovered a woman who was sick and all alone, who had nobody in the world. She started to visit the sick woman, prepared food for her and talked to her for hours.

After two years, the sick woman left this world, and the woman without children was with her when she died. The dying woman said to her, “There’s no way for me to thank you in this lifetime for all the kindness and love you showed me. I promise you, the moment I go up to heaven and stand before the Holy One Blessed be He, I swear to you I will send you a baby.”

“That was almost a year ago and today we are gathered here for such a happy and holy occasion”, the rabbi continued, “The baby we just welcomed into the community is that baby. He is a gift from that woman.”

May your Chanukah lights shine bright with hope and blessings

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 Season of Lights – Chanukah is coming very quickly as it begins at Sundown on November 28, 2021. Most people in the Jewish communities throughout the world can rattle off a list of Chanukah traditions such as lighting the menorah each night; playing dreidel games; eating foods cooked in oil (latkes and Sufganiot); and exchanging gifts.

An age old tradition is telling stories in the glow of the Chanukah menorah. The stories tell of greatness, nobility, and wisdom while at the same time raising the hopes for a better tomorrow.

The very backdrop to the spiritual stories is attractive to its readers allowing one to peek into the beliefs, and lifestyles of a vanishing age of a faraway world and reminding them that the messages are eternal – just as strong today as they were yesterday.

The book, Story Tour: The Journey Begins will remind readers of forgotten stories of faith that strengthen and reaffirm hope for a better world.

Buy a copy of Story Tour: The Journey Begins as a gift for someone special today. Story Tour: The Journey Begins is available from the publisher, Xlibris or Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

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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.

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“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!”

“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.

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.

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)

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

A husband and wife came to holy rabbi. They’d had a big argument and said very hurtful things to one another. They were both angry and sad and wanted a divorce.

The husband went on to say lot more that people normally don’t say in front of a rabbi.

The wife explained that in her parents’ home, it was always done this way. She wouldn’t budge.

So the holy rabbi decided that from now on, she should make two kugels: one to be eaten right after kiddush, and one to serve after the fish and the soup and the chicken and the potatoes. The couple left, reconciled.

From that day on, the holy rabbi always had two kugels at his Shabbos table—one right after kiddush, and another one after the main course. They called it the Shalom Bayis (“peace in the home”) kugel.

Vegetable Kugel Recipe

Ingredients:

2 large onions, diced