A Torah and Menorah of Peace

Posted on Wednesday, 16, December, 2009Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The Rambam makes the following fascinating observation upon his conclusion of the halachos of Chanukah, in his Mishneh Torah.

If one has insufficient funds for both Shabbos candles and for Chanukah candles, or for Shabbos candles and wine for Kiddush, Shabbos candles take precedence, because of the shalom bayis—the peace and domestic tranquility, which they bring into the home. Behold, G-d’s Name is erased, in order to foster peace between a man and his wife.

At which point, the Rambam concludes with the following beautiful words. Peace is exceedingly great, for the entire Torah was given in order to foster peace in the world. As it says:

Her ways are ways of beauty, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)

One Chanukah eve, Reb Nachum delayed lighting his Menorah, even though the preferable time for lighting the Menorah had already passed. It was not until his wife arrived that Reb Nachum lit his Menorah.

Later, Reb Nuchum was asked why he had waited for his wife, since, according to the halacha, a man can light the Menorah in behalf of his wife, even in her absence. Reb Nachum replied that he was aware of that halacha. However, he knew that his wife always looked forward eagerly to this mitzvah, and she would be deeply hurt if he kindled the Menorah without her. He therefore waited for her to return.

The ways of Torah are, indeed, ways of beauty and of peace.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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.

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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, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

The Inheritance of the Youngest Brother

Posted on Tuesday, 15, December, 2009Sunday, 16, June, 2024 by Rabbi

A certain rich man had ten sons. He swore that on the day of his death he would give each of them one hundred gold coins. In due course he lost part of his money and all he had left was nine hundred and gold coins. So he gave the nine hundred to nine sons, and the youngest one said to him:

“Father, what shall I do? How can you leave me penniless?”

The Rich man thought for a moment or two and answered his youngest son:

“I swore to give each one of you one hundred gold coins and I could not break my oath. But only fifty are left me, and I have taken thirty of them for shrouds when I die, so I shall give you the other twenty. For I never thought that the money would be lost to me. But I have ten companions. I shall give them to you and they are better than a thousand dinars. And he instructed his companions about his youngest son, and then he died and was buried.

The nine sons went off to do business, each going his own way, and the youngest one was left at a complete loss, not knowing what he should do. Meanwhile he spent nineteen gold coins and only had one gold coins left. Then he said:

what use can those ten friends my father left me be, when he told me that they would be better than a thousand gold coins? But he took counsel and invited them to his home and spent the last dinar for a feast. They ate and drank with him and said to one another: “This is the only one of all the brothers who keeps his father’s affection for us. We have to keep that affection too and not let him go, but show him kindness for his deeds.”

So each of them gave him a cow in calf and money. The cows gave birth and he sold them, and gathered his money together and tried his hand at commerce. The Lord blessed him and made him richer than his father. Then he said: “My father said truly that friends are better than all the money in the world.”

Therefore a man should increase friends and honor and keep them. It is well to remember that he “who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure. (ben Sira 6:14)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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.

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Chanukah Storytelling by Rabbi Rock

Posted on Tuesday, 8, December, 2009 by Rabbi

People of all ages enjoy stories. They laugh, sigh, cry, and smile as they enjoy age-old lessons and tales of Jewish communities throughout the world.

In the past, Jewish storytellers (maggidim) traveled from community to community to strengthen the heart and soul of the Jewish people. The stories told of greatness, nobility, and courage, celebrating the wisdom of the ages. They celebrated Jewish heritage and tradition; while at the same time, they elevated the hopes of people for a better tomorrow.

Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman is an old time maggid (Jewish Storyteller) who will be telling stories at Congregation Oheb Sholom (555 Warwick Dr) in Reading, Pa on Sunday 13 December at 10:00 a.m., followed by a workshop on spiritual storytelling. He will tell special Chanukah stories at Congregation Beth Abraham Anshei Sfard (6208 Wallis Ave) in Baltimore, MD at 7:00 p.m. on 14 December.

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The simple unfolding of the maggid’s stories strongly motivates a person toward the Holy One, Blessed be He. All the stories reflect the mystery, wonder, beauty, honor, tradition, and spirituality of all people. The stories contain great power to uplift people and help them on their spiritual journeys.

Please join us for a special Chanukah telling of tales of old. For more information contact Project Shalom at projectshalom1@aol.com

Can One Fix a Spirit on Chanukah

Posted on Tuesday, 8, December, 2009Sunday, 10, December, 2023 by Rabbi

“Kol z’man she’ha-ner dolek, efshar l’takain”

“As long as the candle is still lit, it is possible to fix…”

Chanukah, the celebration of lights iscelebrated by ;ighting the chanukah menoah and watching the flames. The chanukah story is often told and the hope for peace and blessing is shared. The conflict for religious freedom and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem are remembered. Some may ask if amongst the many physical aspects (Chanukah menorahs, dreidels, latkes and Chanukah gelt) if there is a personal, internal meaning.

It was a cold, dark evening. Not a star glittered in the sky, nor did the moon light up with even the tiniest flicker. Clouds hung over the dusky sky, and a chill wind sliced through the thin walls of the simple houses. Men hurried home from Ma’ariv (evening prayer), their coats clutched about them.

The Rebbe in his long black coat, walked alone. He passed his students by hurrying out of shul through a side door before they realized it. He was lost in deep thought, and did not wish to be distracted.

“Ribono Shel Olam,” he sighed to himself. “I am getting older, yet there is still so much I have yet to accomplish. People come to me for advice, considering me a complete saint, but only You, Merciful One can clearly see my lackings – I am far from complete. What will be? There is so little time. So little time. It is said that it can take a lifetime to change a habit, and it is late. Oh, Ribono shel Olam, it is so late!”

Suddenly, a small flicker of light caught his attention. As if in a trance, he walked slowly toward the glow. He found himself before the shop of Yossele the tailor. The Rebbe entered slowly, not quite sure why he was driven to pursue the tiny ray of light that had penetrated his introspection.

Light of Hope

He stood in the doorway, fascinated. Yossele sat hunched over a tiny candle; a half finished garment in one hand and an almost invisible threaded needle in the other. In a gentle, rhythmic motion, he pushed the needle through the garment, and pulled it, drawing the thread tight. The small flame flickered to and fro as Yossele pushed the needle, and pulled it tight.

Push the needle and pull it tight…

The Rebbe stood silently for a moment, watching Yossele’s eyes squinting in concentration by the light of the candle stub.

Push the needle and pull it tight…

“Yossele,” the Rebbe spoke softly. “Yossele, why don’t you stop now? It is dark, and the night is cold.”

Yossele looked up at the Rebbe. His eyes seemed to glow with a gentle intensity that outshown the glow of the candle.

“But Rebbe,” he almost whispered, his hands never ceasing to push the needle through and pull it tight, “There is much to fix…”

The Rebbe’s eyes swept over the room, taking in the piles of clothing waiting to be mended.

“Rebbe,” the tailor repeated almost reproachfully, “As long as the candle is burning, one can sill fix . . .”

Push the needle and pull it tight…

The Rebbe’s eyes widened, He felt an all-encompassing lightness overtake him. He was free of his burden.

“Ribono shel Olam! Now I understand! As long as the candle is still burning, one can fix . . . and mend . . . his soul . . .

one . . .stitch . . .at a time…”

Push the needle and pull it tight…

Kol z’man she’haner dolek, efshar l’takain.

As lomg as the lights of the Chanukah menorh flicker and burn, a person can can fix, mend and repair their soul, Each person who sees the flames of the Chanukah menorah can rededicate and rediscover the beauty and wonder of faith.

May the lights of the Chanukah menorah burn bright and may the hope for peace warm the souls of everyone.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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 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, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

The Flawed Stone

Posted on Saturday, 5, December, 2009Wednesday, 5, September, 2018 by Rabbi

The tales and stories of faith are filled with treasures that are becoming lost in a world where science, technology and mass media capture the attention of people. The storytellers of the sacred stories are lost in a society that looks for entertainment and not “lessons”, not many have the “gift” and few want to learn the art.

When one looks for spiritual guidance they are often directed almost exclusively to the Scriptures or House of Worship, but the beauty and wonder become lost in a deluge of religious facts and things to memorize. One’s beliefs are like a fine gem. When one looks at a gem, they don’t look at just one facet, but the whole stone.

THE FLAWED STONE

In a long forgotten kingdom, many, many years ago, there lived a very wise king who was loved by all in his kingdom. But, alas, the king had one fault, he was at times selfish.

Every night he would enter his bedchamber and lock the door. Under his bed, he kept a wooden chest and in that chest there was a magnificent stone. Every night he would take the stone out and he would look at it and as he turned it around, it caught the light in its many different sides. It was perfect.

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One night the king was distracted for but the briefest of moments and the stone fell from his hand to the ground. When the king picked up the stone, it was no longer beautiful and perfect. As he lifted the stone, he saw a crack that ran from one end to the other. The stone was flawed.

The king called for all the jewelers and gem setters within the kingdom to repair the stone, but, alas, they could do nothing. The king called for the stone and gem cutters and after looking at it they said the only way the stone could be saved was to cleave it in two along the crack and have two small beautiful stones.

The king would not hear of it, for the king was wise.

The King had a pedestal built in his throne room, and upon the stand he set the stone with a sign above it that said:

LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL WITHIN AND WITHOUT MY KINGDOM THAT JUST AS THIS STONE IS FLAWED, SO IS THE KING. LET NO ONE BE SELFISH.

The stone sat upon the stand in the throne room for seven years. In the seventh year there came a rabbi, an old and ancient rabbi, who looked upon the stone and said: “I can fix the stone. I can make it more beautiful than it was before it was flawed.”

The guards laughed as they thought the sage was old and without skill nor reason, and asked: “How long will it take old man? A year? Five years? A life time? You don’t have many more years in this world.” The king heard what was going on and invited the ancient rabbi to look at the stone. The rabbi took the stone and carefully looked at it and said he needed but three days to work upon the stone. Then the rabbi covered stone with a black cloth and took it into a chamber which was provided for him. He closed and bolted the chamber door.

The ancient rabbi lifted his hands towards the heavens and he began, “Ribbono shel Olam, Master the universe, give me the strength and the skill to complete the task before me.” For a day and a half the rabbi prayed, and for a day and a half scratching, scraping, and sounds of broken glass was heard from that chamber.

When the third day came everyone who was anybody gathered in the throne room. Every eye watched as the black cloth was slowly removed from the stone and there were oo’s and ah’s for the stone was indeed more beautiful than it was before it was flawed.

For you see from the crack the old and ancient rabbi had etched leaves and out of the top of the stone the rabbi had carved a perfect thirteen petalled rose.

When the king saw the stone he admired its magnificence and realized that it was indeed more beautiful than it was before it was flawed. He walked slowly through his palace marveling at the stone and realized that anyone might want the stone and would become jealous and selfish. He finally came to the courtyard and took the stone from his left hand and put in his right hand, reached back and threw it with all his might into the heavens. The stone went higher and higher until it was seen no more, for it disappeared into the heavens.

But this is not the end of the tale. For you see that that stone sits in the Crown of Glory. When one looks at a gem stone, one does not look at each facet as an individual, but at the whole stone. If one facet is flawed then the whole stone is flawed.

Each person of faith is a facet in the stone and that sits in the Crown of Glory, and the day is fast approaching when every person of faith shall join hands. On that day they will be so strong that no force shall be able to separate them.

Let us all pray for that speedy day to arrive.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play or ITunes

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.

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Healing Words for a Sick Person

Posted on Sunday, 29, November, 2009Tuesday, 16, November, 2010 by Rabbi

A student once asked his teacher, “Is there anything a person can do to lessen his desire for revenge, since the Torah forbids acting vengefully?” The teacher thought for a moment and answered, “Do something to improve yourself. When you become a better person, it will torment your enemies to no end.”

It is well known that a sick person’s attitude can have a major effect on the course of their illness. Optimism improves recovery, whereas depression contributes to a decline in health. So many times have people recovered from very serious illnesses by just having a positive attitude and cheerful disposition.

In a study that was published in 2013, younger men with impotence or repeated penile failure issue are seen to be more likely to smoke or use recreational medicine compared to their levitra without prescription older counterparts. If you have interstitial cystitis, you may have daytime and night time urinary frequency, urgency and pelvic pain of unknown etiology. order generic viagra raindogscine.com Impotent men lose all the interest in the life and career might get collapsed. levitra tablets The nerves in the cialis no prescription mastercard penis need to store more blood than it could previously, helping to produce a strong erection that is required for sexual intercourse. The holy Noda B’Yehudah (Rabbi Yechezkel Landau) knew this well. He did not believe in the popular belief of curing sickness with amulets. Other tzaddikim (holy rabbis) would write amulets whose mystical contents were considered healing, he would not accept the practice.

One time a father pleaded with him to give his daughter an amulet because she had been diagnosed as having a very serious and incurable disease. He was not able to refuse the request of the worried father. So Rabbi Landau took a blank piece of parchment, sealed it in a leather container, and told the father that his daughter should wear the amulet continually for one week and then open it. If the letters had disappeared, that would be a sign that she would recover.

How thrilled everyone was to see the parchment blank at the end of the week! Convinced that she would recover, the young woman indeed did.

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The Island

Posted on Tuesday, 24, November, 2009Monday, 30, July, 2018 by Rabbi

A ship was sailing across the seas to distant lands. The sailors and merchants had lost their way and were wandering aimlessly at sea, tired, hungry and thirsty, confined to the ship. Every so often, they caught sight of a large island there in the middle of the sea. It was the season when the everything comes alive, and all kinds of good trees and grasses and flowers, including roses and violets were seen on the island. Sweet water was found on the beautiful and well-shaded island.

The ship’s captain, crew and passengers approached the island and went ashore to delight in its trees and rest in their shade. They ate from the fruit of the trees, drank the sweet water, and delighted in the sweet fragrance. They then left and returned to the ship to continue the voyage and find their way at sea.

One man among them decided not to leave even though the others strongly pleaded with him, he thought, “Where, anywhere else in the world, could I find such a place of delight, a paradise the likes of which even kings do not possess?” When they saw that he absolutely refused to leave, they continued on without him, and found their way home.

That one man remained there, eating of the island’s fruits, drinking of the sweet water, and delighting in the marvelous fragrance of the spices. But when winter approached, the leaves of all the trees fell to the ground, as did their fruits and similarly all the spices. The springs also dried up. Only bare trees remained, affording him neither shade nor protection from either the dry hot days or the night frost. And he died there, hungry and empty-handed, having found nothing but untold distress.

So are we in this world like that ship sailing on the high seas. Like a lost ship at sea, we are unsure of our direction and know not to whom to turn or where we are going. In this world, which resembles such a sea, we discover a large island with all kinds of delights and pleasures, more than one can ever count.

There are those who—knowing the awe of G-d—partake of these pleasures in a limited way but then immediately return to G-d in repentance. They continue along their way, fulfilling G-d’s will, even suffering the distresses of this world, which are like the agonies of being at sea, in order to proceed toward their place of rest. And, then, there are fools like that man who, so drawn to physical delights, remained to enjoy them until the season approached in which those delights ceased and in their place he found only bare trees and had neither food nor shade but only affliction and torment. This is the case with all those who follow the dictates of their eves and the false desires of their hearts without considering what tomorrow will bring.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Click here for more storytelling resources

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

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

Google Play ITunes

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The Deaf Man of the Shul

Posted on Thursday, 24, September, 2009Friday, 4, October, 2019 by Rabbi

There was an old shul in the neighborhood that everyone went to. The people came and prayed and lived their lives. Now there was one man in the shul who was deaf, and to everyone’s surprise he came to shul each Shabbos.

He prayed with tear-filled eyes because his son was the chazzan (cantor). Though his voice he never heard and he prays with tear-filled eyes. Though he never heard his son’s voice, he would sit there enjoying every word.

The deaf man watched every motion, every gesture that his son made, and would stay until the vary end of the prayers no matter how long it took. And when the davening was over he was always the first to greet his son to tell him yasher koach , well done.

Now right before Yom Kippur and the sun was setting fast and everyone was waiting to begin Kol Nidre, but the chazzan (cantor) was not in the shul. There were many who began to worry and as the rabbi looked he saw the shul was full, but the deaf man’s seat was empty.

Suddenly the chazzan burst into the shul in his kittle and long tallis trailing behind. The people saw that he was wearing his white chazzan’s hat that he never wore before. As he’s rushing up to the beemah he stops at his father’s empty chair for just the briefest moment as he pulls his tallis over his head.

It was almost past time for the holy Kol Nidre service and the rabbi asked him why he was so late, but the chazzan answered he had to get ready for Yom Kippur. Silence fell throughout the shul as the chazzan took his place surrounded by the holy Torah ring. He took a deep breath and began to pray. His voice pierced the very gates of heaven and every heart was broken. Tears flowed so much that every sin was washed away and every soul was pure for Yom Kippur that year.

When the chazzan finished davening, the rabbi asked asked him, what was it he was thinking of That made him sing so well? The chazzan looked at him and a tear fell from his eye as he answered, “Well you know my father was deaf and last night he passed away and this is the first time that my father^‘s heard me pray^“

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May all prayers be heard and everyone be inscribed and sealed for a good year

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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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A Prescription for Life

Posted on Thursday, 17, September, 2009Wednesday, 13, September, 2023 by Rabbi

It is told that the king became enraged at a certain wise physician and gave orders to his servants to put him in prison in a place that was as narrow as the grave. At his order they put chains on him and an iron yoke on his neck. At the royal command they stripped him of his clothes and dressed him in rags and tatters made of the coarsest wool. The king ordered that the doctor should receive each day some barley bread with a spoonful of salt and a pitcher of water. The king further commanded the prison guards to listen to his words and report them to him. For this doctor was very wise and said nothing that was not full of wisdom.

He stayed a long time in prison without uttering a word, keeping silent. In due course the king instructed the kinsfolk and acquaintances of that sage to visit him in prison and talk to him, for maybe he would speak to them. So they went to him and said:

“Good master, we see your distress in this prison where you are yoked and shackled at your neck and legs, and how you hunger and thirst in your nakedness and are surrounded by all this torment. Yet we are astonished at your bright face which has not changed, while you have not grown lean and you are as strong as ever!”

The doctor looked at them for a moment or two and then answered them:

“I took seven drugs with me and mixed them together and from them I have made myself a potion of which I drink a little every day. That is what has kept me strong and unchanged.” “Tell us what those drugs are,” said they, “and if anyone of us should suffer such grievous torments as these we shall make a potion of them so that he should not perish.”

“The first drug,” said he, “is faith in the Holy and Blessed One who can deliver me from many evils and troubles, and He will deliver me from these and from the king, as it says in the Book of Proverbs (21:1): ‘Streams of water and the heart of the king are in the hand of the Lord to turn whichever way He desires.’ The second drug is hope. The third drug is: My knowledge that my sin caused this and I was trapped by my transgression, and I was the cause. That being so, why should I complain? The fourth drug is: If I do not wait patiently, what shall I do instead? Is there any other choice? If the king decrees that I must die, why should I die before my time? The fifth drug is: I know that it is for my own benefit that the Holy and Blessed One causes me to suffer in order to erase my transgressions in this world so that I may enjoy life in the world to come. The sixth drug is: I rejoice in my portion and give thanks and offer praises on account of it, since I might have been in even greater distress. Though I am chained and shackled it might have been worse, for they could have beaten me with whips or other torments. If I have barley bread to eat, it would have been possible not to receive bread at all, neither of wheat nor even of barley. They give me a measure of water, but they might not have given me any water at all. Though my garb is of coarsest wool, they could have left me naked. And the seventh drug is: I know that the salvation of the Lord can come in the twinkling of an eye since He is gracious and merciful, long-suffering and full of kindness and truth to him who can repent of wrongdoing; and He, may He be blessed, will deliver me from my distress and settle with my foes.”

May you be blessed and sealed for a sweet year of success, happiness and good things

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

The Treasure

Posted on Saturday, 22, August, 2009Monday, 11, January, 2021 by Rabbi

There are many paths people walk. Along the way there are many wonders and adventures. Many will discover treasures that they did not know they had….

There once was a poor man. He worked everyday from sun up to sun down, but no matter how hard he worked, he could not earn enough to support his family. One night he dreamed that there was a great treasure under a bridge in a faraway village. In the morning he told his wife of his dream and she said that maybe this was a good sign and that he should travel to the faraway village.

He traveled to the faraway village and stood near the bridge, and watched as people walked across the bridge. Towards evening the traffic on the bridge had slowed to nothing. So the poor man decided to go and get the treasure.

As he stepped onto the bridge he saw an officer coming from the opposite side. The poor man decided that no matter what he would tell the truth. The officer passed by and asked,

“I see that you are a stranger here, What is your business?”

The man decided that it would be best to tell the whole story and ask for help, hoping that [the officer] would share the treasure with him. He told the officer the entire story.

The officer replied,

“A poor person is only concerned with dreams! I also had a dream. In my dream I saw an old house with a red door and the window on the right was cracked. Inside the house was a woman and children crying because they had no food. Now in this house is an old iron stove and on the stove was a beat up copper kettle and behind the stove there is a hole in the wall. In that hole there is a treasure.”

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In relating his dream, the officer accurately described the poor man’s house. He rushed home, and tried to push the iron stove, but he couldn’t. He called his wife and they both pushed and pushed and were only able to push the stove a little. The children joined and soon the stove was pushed away from the wall and sure enough there was a hole in the wall and they found a treasure of golden coins.

The poor man noted, “Now I know that I had the treasure all along. But in order to find it, I had to travel to the faraway village.”

The same is true in serving the Holy One, Blessed be He. Each person has the treasure, but in order to find it, he must travel to a teacher or guide.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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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 Rambam makes the following fascinating observation upon his conclusion of the halachos of Chanukah, in his Mishneh Torah.

At which point, the Rambam concludes with the following beau­tiful words. Peace is exceedingly great, for the entire Torah was given in order to foster peace in the world. As it says:

Her ways are ways of beauty, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)

One Chanukah eve, Reb Nachum delayed lighting his Menorah, even though the preferable time for lighting the Menorah had already passed. It was not until his wife arrived that Reb Nachum lit his Menorah.

The ways of Torah are, indeed, ways of beauty and of peace.

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 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, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

A certain rich man had ten sons. He swore that on the day of his death he would give each of them one hundred gold coins. In due course he lost part of his money and all he had left was nine hundred and gold coins. So he gave the nine hundred to nine sons, and the youngest one said to him:

“Father, what shall I do? How can you leave me penniless?”

The Rich man thought for a moment or two and answered his youngest son:

The nine sons went off to do business, each going his own way, and the youngest one was left at a complete loss, not knowing what he should do. Meanwhile he spent nineteen gold coins and only had one gold coins left. Then he said:

Therefore a man should increase friends and honor and keep them. It is well to remember that he “who finds a faithful friend finds a treasure. (ben Sira 6:14)

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

“Kol z’man she’ha-ner dolek, efshar l’takain”

“As long as the candle is still lit, it is possible to fix…”

The Rebbe in his long black coat, walked alone. He passed his students by hurrying out of shul through a side door before they realized it. He was lost in deep thought, and did not wish to be distracted.

Suddenly, a small flicker of light caught his attention. As if in a trance, he walked slowly toward the glow. He found himself before the shop of Yossele the tailor. The Rebbe entered slowly, not quite sure why he was driven to pursue the tiny ray of light that had penetrated his introspection.

Push the needle and pull it tight…

The Rebbe stood silently for a moment, watching Yossele’s eyes squinting in concentration by the light of the candle stub.

Push the needle and pull it tight…

“Yossele,” the Rebbe spoke softly. “Yossele, why don’t you stop now? It is dark, and the night is cold.”

Yossele looked up at the Rebbe. His eyes seemed to glow with a gentle intensity that outshown the glow of the candle.

“But Rebbe,” he almost whispered, his hands never ceasing to push the needle through and pull it tight, “There is much to fix…”

The Rebbe’s eyes swept over the room, taking in the piles of clothing waiting to be mended.

“Rebbe,” the tailor repeated almost reproachfully, “As long as the candle is burning, one can sill fix . . .”

Push the needle and pull it tight…

The Rebbe’s eyes widened, He felt an all-encompassing lightness overtake him. He was free of his burden.

“Ribono shel Olam! Now I understand! As long as the candle is still burning, one can fix . . . and mend . . . his soul . . .

one . . .stitch . . .at a time…”

Push the needle and pull it tight…

Kol z’man she’haner dolek, efshar l’takain.

As lomg as the lights of the Chanukah menorh flicker and burn, a person can can fix, mend and repair their soul, Each person who sees the flames of the Chanukah menorah can rededicate and rediscover the beauty and wonder of faith.

May the lights of the Chanukah menorah burn bright and may the hope for peace warm the souls of everyone.

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 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, Booksamillion, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

THE FLAWED STONE

In a long forgotten kingdom, many, many years ago, there lived a very wise king who was loved by all in his kingdom. But, alas, the king had one fault, he was at times selfish.

One night the king was distracted for but the briefest of moments and the stone fell from his hand to the ground. When the king picked up the stone, it was no longer beautiful and perfect. As he lifted the stone, he saw a crack that ran from one end to the other. The stone was flawed.

The king would not hear of it, for the king was wise.

The King had a pedestal built in his throne room, and upon the stand he set the stone with a sign above it that said:

LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL WITHIN AND WITHOUT MY KINGDOM THAT JUST AS THIS STONE IS FLAWED, SO IS THE KING. LET NO ONE BE SELFISH.

The stone sat upon the stand in the throne room for seven years. In the seventh year there came a rabbi, an old and ancient rabbi, who looked upon the stone and said: “I can fix the stone. I can make it more beautiful than it was before it was flawed.”

When the third day came everyone who was anybody gathered in the throne room. Every eye watched as the black cloth was slowly removed from the stone and there were oo’s and ah’s for the stone was indeed more beautiful than it was before it was flawed.

For you see from the crack the old and ancient rabbi had etched leaves and out of the top of the stone the rabbi had carved a perfect thirteen petalled rose.

But this is not the end of the tale. For you see that that stone sits in the Crown of Glory. When one looks at a gem stone, one does not look at each facet as an individual, but at the whole stone. If one facet is flawed then the whole stone is flawed.

Each person of faith is a facet in the stone and that sits in the Crown of Glory, and the day is fast approaching when every person of faith shall join hands. On that day they will be so strong that no force shall be able to separate them.

Let us all pray for that speedy day to arrive.

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

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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

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)

New – Listen to the stories every Wednesday evening on the Story Tour Podcast on

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

At which point, the Rambam concludes with the following beautiful words. Peace is exceedingly great, for the entire Torah was given in order to foster peace in the world. As it says: