A Freilechen Purim Stories 2022

Posted on Monday, 14, March, 2022 by Rabbi

Story Tour shares special Purim stories for all to enjoy and share with others. The threat of violence, a growing war in the Ukraine, the complications caused by COVID and a sense of foreboding has led many to prayer in these days and the unseen hand of the Holy One, blessed be He brings hope and peace as heartfelt prayers are said today as they have since the time of Esther and Mordechai so many years ago in Persia.

A Purim Gilgul – Matonos l’Evyonim -The world is like a water wheel: the bucket ascend full and descend empty. Who is rich today may not be so tomorrow (Exodus Rabbah 31:14)

A Maggid and Purim – Megillah, maggidim (spiritual storytellers) and the king’s sleepless night. The king could simply have a maggid to tell a bedtime story.

Purim: A Time of Joy – Purim is a Jewish holiday of deliverance from death which served as an inspiration in the ghettos, death camps and forests of nazi Europe and a spark of hope.

Another Purim? – For many Jewish families of Spanish descent, there is a special holiday called Purim Saragossa based on a 15th century event that even fewer people know about.

Purim by the Clock – The day of Purim..the clock showed him that the hands on the clock’s face stood at the same position, the very moment when the king was carried away.

Purim Megillas Esther

The Forgotten Melody – An old Jewish man with his violin brought joy and happiness to the sick and poor people on Purim and he learns a beautiful and haunting melody.

The Forgotten Melody

Posted on Tuesday, 10, March, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Chaim Leib was a wandering musician. He traveled from village to village playing his violin at every opportunity. His music made others happy, and he asked for nothing more than a meal and a place to sleep.

Now Chaim Leib especially loved playing at orphans’ weddings and at the end of every Shabbos (Sabbath Day). His favorite songs were niggunim – haunting Jewish melodies without words. During the summer, when the windows were wide open, the sound of his violin was heard up and down the roads and byways. Old people as well as young listened to his wonderful playing, which brought joy to a neighborhood that was sad and poor.

At many celebrations, Chaim Leib could be heard playing his violin, which had been in his family for many generations. He played on the eve of Hanukah after lighting the candles, and he played on the eve of Purim.

Each year it was his custom, right after the Purim meal in his house, to take his violin and go to entertain sick and poor people. When he played for poor families, the children would hum along and the women would clap. Before he left each house, Chaim Leib would taste some wine and continue on his way to the next house.

Now one year, Purim took place during an exceptionally cold winter. Deep snow covered the ground, and a strong wind shook roofs and shutters. Chaim Leib was more than sixty years old, and his wife, Feige Chava, asked him not to go out that year. He was determined to lighten the hearts of the sick and poor on Purim, as he had done for so many years.

So Chaim Leib left home and went from house to house playing for the people. He did not refuse any food or drink that the poor gave him in thanks.

When Chaim Leib had not come home by midnight, Feige Chava began to worry. By one o’clock, she started to worry even more. When the old clock showed two, Chaim Leib’s wife woke Shlomo di balegole (the wagon driver) from a deep sleep.

Shlomo di balegole hitched a horse to the sleigh and went with Feige Chava to the house of the village rabbi. They woke the rabbi. With the rabbi’s assistant, the shammash, they lit several lamps and went to search for Chaim Leib. Every place they went, they were told yes, he had been there. He had played his violin, drunk a glass of wine, and gone on his way.

At last they returned home without having found Chaim Leib. The shammash was weary, but he did not return to bed, for it was time to open the old wooden shul (synagogue). He was surprised to see Chaim Leib sitting there. He was playing a beautiful melody on his ancient violin . The melody that the shammash had never heard before.

“Chaim Leib!” cried the shammash. “Are you all right? Where have you been?”

“Don’t bother me,” said Chaim Leib. “I must not forget the melody that I just learned from Moishe the chazzan (cantor).”

“But Moishe the chazzan died many years ago,” the shammash said.

“I know,” said Chaim Leib. as he played the song over and over until he knew it by heart. Then he turned to the shammash. “Let me tell you what happened:

“I went from house to house, playing my violin, as I do every Purim. Everyone was very generous, and perhaps I drank a little too much wine.

“On my way home, I decided to take a shortcut through the yard of the synagogue even though I have heard that the dead pray in the synagogue every night. While passing in front of the gate, I heard a voice from inside the synagogue say, ‘Will Chaim Leib, the son of Yaakov haLevi come forth and pray?’ At that instant I was filled with terror. Who was calling me ? I wanted to escape, but I knew that I had no choice but to go inside. For when you are called to pray before the Torah, you must do it.

“As I approached the door of the synagogue, my legs were trembling. All at once, the door opened as if by itself, and I peered inside. There I saw that the Torah had been taken out of the Ark and lay open. And standing before it I saw ghostly figures as transparent as spider webs.

“Shivering with fear, I took my place before the Torah, made the blessing. and was ready to run away. When suddenly I saw Moishe the chazzan, hurrying toward me. I was very surprised to see him, for I knew that he was no longer among the living.

“‘Chaim Leib,’ he said, ‘please, have mercy. There is something that I must tell you.’ I tried to remain calm, although I could hear my heart beat¬ing. I nodded for him to go on.

“The ghostly figure said, ‘There is a melody I composed just before I died, which I took with me to the grave. I wrote it for the living and it is a great burden for me. The song has never been heard by anyone else. Let me share it with you, so that you can play it for others. As soon as you do, my melody will be set free, and you, Chaim Leib, will be rewarded with a long life.’

“When I heard this, I realized that I had not come there by chance. Even though I was speaking to a spirit, my fear vanished, and I listened carefully as Moishe the chazzan began to sing that niggun. And as soon as he finished, he and all the other ghostly figures vanished, and I took out my violin and played, so as not to forget it. Now I must play it again and again, till my fingers know it by heart.” And so he did, while the shammash listened in amazement.

The next day Chaim Leib sang that magnificent melody for the first time in front of the congregation of the old wooden shul. All who were present agreed that it was truly a haunting melody, the likes of which had never been heard.

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

A Freilechen Purim Stories

Posted on Sunday, 8, March, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Story Tour shares special Purim stories for all to enjoy and share with others. The threat of violence and a sense of foreboding has led many to prayer and the unseen hand of the Holy One, blessed be He brought hope and peace as heartfelt prayers were said.

A Maggid and Purim – Megillah, maggidim (spiritual storytellers) and the king’s sleepless night. The king could simply have a maggid to tell a bedtime story.

Purim: A Time of Joy – Purim is a Jewish holiday of deliverance from death which served as an inspiration in the ghettos, death camps and forests of nazi Europe and a spark of hope.

Another Purim? – For many Jewish families of Spanish descent, there is a special holiday called Purim Saragossa based on a 15th century event that even fewer people know about.

Purim by the Clock – The day of Purim..the clock showed him that the hands on the clock’s face stood at the same position, the very moment when the king was carried away.

A Maggid and Purim

Posted on Sunday, 25, February, 2018Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A maggid (storytelling preacher) once (or perhaps more than once) observed that a number of the listeners fell asleep as he told wondrous stories to strengthen the faith of people and touch their hearts. In order to make light of it, the maggid announced, “This tendency to doze off when hearing words of ma’asios tovos (good stories) and mussar (ethics) is not a new occurrence. The Talmud tells us that when the great Rabbi Akiva preached, the people also fell asleep.

“The Talmud goes on to relate that in order to arouse the crowd, Rabbi Akiva would begin talking about the Megillas Esther (Book of Esther). Why did Rabbi Akiva choose that particular subject for this purpose?

“I guess it was because there is evidence in the Megillah that there were once no maggidim (spiritual storytellers). How so? The Megillah reveals that “the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the Book of Records, the Annals, and they were read to the king.” (Esther 6:1)

“Now had there been any maggidim around at that time, he would certainly not have had to do so. He could simply have called the maggid to deliver a brilliantly moving and relevant story, which would promptly have sent him into the bliss of dreamland.”

A Freilichen Purim!

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)

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

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

Please share this story with others

Another Purim ?

Posted on Sunday, 20, March, 2016Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

It was during the time when Alphonso V of Aragon ruled that there were in the city of Saragossa twelve handsome synagogues supported by the prosperous Jewish community, who were so well treated by the king that, whenever he visited the city of Saragossa, all the rabbis went out to honour him, each carrying, in its case, the Torah belonging to his synagogue. Several wealthy merchants objected that it was dishonour for the Torah to be carried out to flatter the vanity of a non-Jewish king, and since no reading of the Torah was involved, they pressured the rabbis to leave the Torahs in the holy arks of the synagogues on such occasions, and going out with the empty cases.

King Alphonso V ruled over several cities where many Jewish people lived happily under his fair reign. In Saragossa, the capital city, the large Jewish community took every opportunity of showing the king their loyalty and appreciation. So, whenever the king celebrated special occasions he would parade through the Jewish quarter, the leaders of the Jewish community would go out to meet him, carrying the beautiful Sefer-Torah cases with their silver ornaments, as a special gesture in honour of the king.

All this show of honour pleased the king greatly, and all would have been well had there not been a man in the king’s court who hated the Jewish people and resented the king’s friendly feelings towards them. This man’s name was Marcus of Damascus, and he hoped to anger the king against his Jewish subjects while at the same time, gaining favor for himself.

When by chance Marcus learned that the Jewish leaders went to meet the king carrying empty cases, he felt he had found the opportunity he was looking for, and told the king that the Jewish community disrespected him. The king was easily convinced by the report of Marcus that his Jewish subjects meant to mock him by carrying empty cases when they went out to greet him at his parades. When Marcus saw how angry he had made the king against the Jewish community, he quickly suggested that the king give an order to have all the Jewish people be driven out of Aragon.

Even though the king was very angry, he had not intended doing anything so drastic to the Jewish community, and he asked:

“I understand they have, a powerful G-d. Would He not punish me for hurting His people?”

“The Jewish people cannot expect mercy or consideration from their G-d. Since they live very comfortably under your reign, they have drifted away from their beliefs and practices and do not obey His commandments,” said Marcus with conviction.

“But if I banish the Jewish people from my kingdom, won’t the country suffer? After all they pay taxes and are valuable citizens.”

“The Jewish people are so scattered that you wouldn’t even notice their absence,” urged Marcus.

“But is it fair to punish all the Jewish people? What about those who are innocent of any wrongdoing?” offered the king.

“Your Majesty should know that they are all the same. They all stick together in all they do, and so they are all equally to blame for the disrespect they have shown you. Besides, it is the heads of the community who come out to greet you in the procession, so surely there is no excuse for them,” finished Marcus, barely hiding a smile on his face, feeling sure he had won the argument.

“Look here Marcus, I am indeed very angry with the Jewish people and agree that they must be severely punished, if what you say is true. But I want to be fair to them, for they have so far always shown themselves to be loyal subjects. I’ll make a deal with you. At the next parade, when the Jewish community comes out to meet me, I’ll have you riding by my side. I give you the authority to open their holy cases and, if they are found to be empty, you may carry out your plan against them. On the other hand, if what you say is untrue, then the punishment will be turned against yourself. Are you prepared to take that chance? I do not intend to be made a fool of by anyone.^“

Marcus, who was quite sure that he had the right information, readily agreed. He was already picturing himself riding beside the king, sitting beside the king, and being second to the king in everything. But how true it is that “pride comes before a fall.”

The night before the royal parade, the shamash (beadle) of the main Jewish synagogue in Saragossa could not fall asleep. He was thinking about the king’s visit to the Jewish quarter, and he was worried. He tossed and turned and was weighed down by a dreadful feeling that something terrible was threatening the Jewish community. He felt an urge to run out and warn the heads of the kehilla (community), but thought that they would laugh at him, for everything was so nice and peaceful for them. Finally he fell into an uneasy sleep. He dreamt that an old, grey-bearded, stately man appeared before him, saying: “Arise! Waste no time. Danger threatens all the Jewish people in Saragossa. Hurry to the synagogue and quickly put the Torah-Scrolls inside their cases. But say not a word to anyone!”

Before the shamash had a chance to say any-thing, the vision disappeared. He quickly awoke, shivering with fright. He pulled on some clothes and ran all the way to the synagogue, stumbling in the dark. He realized that the man in his dream must be none other than Elijah the Prophet, and that his dream was no nightmare, but a serious warning which he must see to without delay.

What the shamash did not know was that he was not the only one to whom Elijah had appeared in the night. The prophet had in fact passed on the same warning to the other beadles in the city of Saragossa. They had likewise hurried to their synagogues and secretly put the Torahs inside their cases, anxiously awaiting develop

The following morning, when the sound of the trumpets was heard in the city, heralding the beginning of the royal parade, the heads of the Jewish community, as always, went out to greet the king. As the royal carriage stopped receive the greetings of the heads of the Jewish community, Marcus, who was sitting by the side of the king said:

“Your Majesty surely wishes to see what is inside these things that the Jewish leaders are carrying.” “As the king’s minister I order you to open the cases.”

The Jewish people were horrified at the unexpected request, for they knew that it was usual for them to bring only the empty cases, and leave the Torahs in the synagogues. What would the king say, or do? They had no choice but to obey, so with sinking hearts they opened up the cases and, to their wonderment and relief beheld the Sifrei-Torah inside, for all to see!

The king seemed quite surprised, and as for that villain Marcus, the look of expectancy and triumph disappeared from his face, which had now turned pale with fright. He tried to speak, but no words came. Instead, the king burst upon him in rage. “Traitor! Deceiver! This time you have out-smarted yourself and you shall suffer the penalty of your own vicious scheme! Have him hanged immediately!” the king ordered, and the scheming Marcus received the end he so richly deserved.

As for the Jewish communities of Aragon the king declared publicly that he had every confidence in their loyalty. And, as a sign of his good will towards them, he ordered that they be freed from paying taxes for the next three years.

When the Jewish leaders learned the full story of their narrow escape, their relief and joy can better be imagined than described. They all humbly thanked G-d for His benevolence towards them. They realized their dependence upon Him and resolved to serve Him with greater devotion in the future. They further decided to keep the 17th and 18th days of Sh’vat—the anniversary of their miraculous deliverance (in the year 1420)—as days of prayer and joyous thanks to Hashem, so that their children and future generations would remember the story of how they had been miraculously saved from destruction at the hands of a cruel enemy.

This, then, is the story of The “Purim” of Saragossa.

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) Please share this story with your friends, family and others and leave us a comment or two.

Purim by the Clock

Posted on Monday, 10, March, 2014Wednesday, 21, September, 2022 by Rabbi

A king who ruled a large kingdom was reading an ancient book when he discovered that he was a descendant of Haman, the son of Hamdasa the chief minister of King Achashverosh in Shushan, the ancient capital of Persia and Medea.

The king thought and decided that he would take revenge for his ancestor Haman, whom Mordechai and Esther sent to the gallows, together with his ten sons. Secondly, he would force the Jewish communities in his kingdom to pay him a large sum of money each year for payment of damages to his family.

The king immediately issued a decree that the Jewish people in his land must pay ten thousand silver coins to the royal treasury on the day of Purim. At the same time, the Jews had to deliver to the King a Jewish man named Mordechai to be hanged on that day.

On hearing the cruel decree, the Jewish people gathered to fast and pray. They knew that three things help to annul a cruel decree: Repentance, Prayer and Charity. So they prayed with greater enthusiasm and gave more charity than they had done before.

The day of Purim was fast approaching, and the fear in the Jewish community grew stronger each day. If they did not deliver the fine, together with a Jewish man named Mordechai to be publicly hanged, the cruel king had sworn to drive them all out of his kingdom without mercy, and to take over their possessions.

The Jewish people gathered in the synagogues, and prayed that the Holy One, blessed be He would help them in their time of need, while the ruthless king was looking forward with great pleasure to the public ceremony he had prepared for the hanging of a Jewish man named Mordechai.

That night the king had much trouble falling asleep. When he finally dozed off, he awoke just as the clock struck two and was terrified to see an old man dressed in a flowing robe and a long white beard standing near his bed, with a mysterious smile on his face.

Confused and terrified, the king quickly looked at the clock, unsure whether it was day or night. Then he quickly jumped out of bed, ran to the door intending to punish the guards for allowing the old man to enter the king’s bed-chamber. Just as he opened the door, a strong wind lifted him up in the air and carried him to a faraway place.

From inside the wind the king heard melodies, the sound of the music caused to fall asleep. When he awoke, he found himself in an abandoned ancient cemetery, which was surrounded by high stone walls. The strange surroundings, deathly silence and dimness terrified him to his very bones, and he began to call for help — but no one answered his calls.

For many hours he walked around the dismal cemetery feeling hopeless as low hanging branches tangled in his hair and brambles tore his clothes. He was also plagued by hunger and thirst. His hands were sore and scratched as he tried unsuccessfully to climb the high walls.

He called for help again, but all that came back was a deadly silence.

Suddenly he saw the old man he had seen in his royal bedroom. The stranger was carrying a basket of bread in one hand and a jug of water in the other. This time, the king was happy to see him, and he begged him to save him from his desperate situation.

The old man paid no attention to the king. He just left the bread and water and disappeared into the mist.

The following morning, after a most frightful night, the old man came again, bringing bread and water and then disappearing in the mist. The same thing happened on the third day. This time, the old man asked the king: “Do you wish to say anything?”

The king, torn by shame, fell to the feet of the old man and begged him for mercy.

“I have sinned terribly against the innocent Jewish people in my country,” the king said. “But I swear that I will abolish the decree against them and will treat them with justice and kindness in the future. Please, free me from this terrible forsaken place, I can bear it no longer.”

“If you will give me this promise in writing, with your signature, I will free you and you will again be king in your country,” the old man replied.

“This I shall most gladly do,” the king answered. He immediately wrote out a new decree, canceling the previous decree against the Jewish people, and promising never again to issue any harsh decree against them. After signing the document, the king handed it to the old man.

No sooner had the king done this than he felt a strong wind lifting him up and carrying him away. He heard the wonderful melodies and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, he found himself in bed in his royal palace. Near his bed stood the same mysterious old man who had entered without permission the night that the king had first been carried off by a wind to the distant, awful cemetery. In his hand, the old man held the document that the king had given him.

The king turned to the old man wearily: “Why did you have to torture me for such a long time?”

With a mysterious smile on his lips, the old man raised his hand in which he held the document and, pointing to the clock showed him that the hands on the clock’s face stood at the same position, two o’clock, the very moment when the king was carried away from his palace. Full of astonishment, the king realized that the entire terrible experience had lasted just a tick of the clock.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

A Purim Gilgul – Matonos l’Evyonim -The world is like a water wheel: the bucket ascend full and descend empty. Who is rich today may not be so tomorrow (Exodus Rabbah 31:14)

A Maggid and Purim – Megillah, maggidim (spiritual storytellers) and the king’s sleepless night. The king could simply have a maggid to tell a bedtime story.

Purim: A Time of Joy – Purim is a Jewish holiday of deliverance from death which served as an inspiration in the ghettos, death camps and forests of nazi Europe and a spark of hope.

Another Purim? – For many Jewish families of Spanish descent, there is a special holiday called Purim Saragossa based on a 15th century event that even fewer people know about.

Purim by the Clock – The day of Purim..the clock showed him that the hands on the clock’s face stood at the same position, the very moment when the king was carried away.

The Forgotten Melody – An old Jewish man with his violin brought joy and happiness to the sick and poor people on Purim and he learns a beautiful and haunting melody.

More Purim Stories Tomorrow and on Purim

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

Chaim Leib was a wandering musician. He traveled from village to village playing his violin at every opportunity. His music made others happy, and he asked for nothing more than a meal and a place to sleep.

At many celebrations, Chaim Leib could be heard playing his violin, which had been in his family for many generations. He played on the eve of Hanukah after lighting the candles, and he played on the eve of Purim.

So Chaim Leib left home and went from house to house playing for the people. He did not refuse any food or drink that the poor gave him in thanks.

When Chaim Leib had not come home by midnight, Feige Chava began to worry. By one o’clock, she started to worry even more. When the old clock showed two, Chaim Leib’s wife woke Shlomo di balegole (the wagon driver) from a deep sleep.

“Chaim Leib!” cried the shammash. “Are you all right? Where have you been?”

“Don’t bother me,” said Chaim Leib. “I must not forget the melody that I just learned from Moishe the chazzan (cantor).”

“But Moishe the chazzan died many years ago,” the shammash said.

“I know,” said Chaim Leib. as he played the song over and over until he knew it by heart. Then he turned to the shammash. “Let me tell you what happened:

“I went from house to house, playing my violin, as I do every Purim. Everyone was very generous, and perhaps I drank a little too much wine.

“As I approached the door of the synagogue, my legs were trembling. All at once, the door opened as if by itself, and I peered inside. There I saw that the Torah had been taken out of the Ark and lay open. And standing before it I saw ghostly figures as transparent as spider webs.

“Shivering with fear, I took my place before the Torah, made the blessing. and was ready to run away. When suddenly I saw Moishe the chazzan, hurrying toward me. I was very surprised to see him, for I knew that he was no longer among the living.

“‘Chaim Leib,’ he said, ‘please, have mercy. There is something that I must tell you.’ I tried to remain calm, although I could hear my heart beat¬ing. I nodded for him to go on.

The next day Chaim Leib sang that magnificent melody for the first time in front of the congregation of the old wooden shul. All who were present agreed that it was truly a haunting melody, the likes of which had never been heard.

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

Story Tour shares special Purim stories for all to enjoy and share with others. The threat of violence and a sense of foreboding has led many to prayer and the unseen hand of the Holy One, blessed be He brought hope and peace as heartfelt prayers were said.

A Maggid and Purim – Megillah, maggidim (spiritual storytellers) and the king’s sleepless night. The king could simply have a maggid to tell a bedtime story.

Purim: A Time of Joy – Purim is a Jewish holiday of deliverance from death which served as an inspiration in the ghettos, death camps and forests of nazi Europe and a spark of hope.

Another Purim? – For many Jewish families of Spanish descent, there is a special holiday called Purim Saragossa based on a 15th century event that even fewer people know about.

Purim by the Clock – The day of Purim..the clock showed him that the hands on the clock’s face stood at the same position, the very moment when the king was carried away.

More Purim Stories Tomorrow and on Purim

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

“The Talmud goes on to relate that in order to arouse the crowd, Rabbi Akiva would begin talking about the Megillas Esther (Book of Esther). Why did Rabbi Akiva choose that particular subject for this purpose?

“I guess it was because there is evidence in the Megillah that there were once no maggidim (spiritual storytellers). How so? The Megillah reveals that “the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the Book of Records, the Annals, and they were read to the king.” (Esther 6:1)

“Now had there been any maggidim around at that time, he would certainly not have had to do so. He could simply have called the maggid to deliver a brilliantly moving and relevant story, which would promptly have sent him into the bliss of dreamland.”

A Freilichen Purim!

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)

If the stories are not shared they will be lost.

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

Please share this story with others

Even though the king was very angry, he had not intended doing anything so drastic to the Jewish community, and he asked:

“I understand they have, a powerful G-d. Would He not punish me for hurting His people?”

“The Jewish people cannot expect mercy or consideration from their G-d. Since they live very comfortably under your reign, they have drifted away from their beliefs and practices and do not obey His commandments,” said Marcus with conviction.

“But if I banish the Jewish people from my kingdom, won’t the country suffer? After all they pay taxes and are valuable citizens.”

“The Jewish people are so scattered that you wouldn’t even notice their absence,” urged Marcus.

“But is it fair to punish all the Jewish people? What about those who are innocent of any wrongdoing?” offered the king.

Marcus, who was quite sure that he had the right information, readily agreed. He was already picturing himself riding beside the king, sitting beside the king, and being second to the king in everything. But how true it is that “pride comes before a fall.”

“Your Majesty surely wishes to see what is inside these things that the Jewish leaders are carrying.” “As the king’s minister I order you to open the cases.”

As for the Jewish communities of Aragon the king declared publicly that he had every confidence in their loyalty. And, as a sign of his good will towards them, he ordered that they be freed from paying taxes for the next three years.

This, then, is the story of The “Purim” of Saragossa.

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) Please share this story with your friends, family and others and leave us a comment or two.

A king who ruled a large kingdom was reading an ancient book when he discovered that he was a descendant of Haman, the son of Hamdasa the chief minister of King Achashverosh in Shushan, the ancient capital of Persia and Medea.

The king thought and decided that he would take revenge for his ancestor Haman, whom Mordechai and Esther sent to the gallows, together with his ten sons. Secondly, he would force the Jewish communities in his kingdom to pay him a large sum of money each year for payment of damages to his family.

The king immediately issued a decree that the Jewish people in his land must pay ten thousand silver coins to the royal treasury on the day of Purim. At the same time, the Jews had to deliver to the King a Jewish man named Mordechai to be hanged on that day.

On hearing the cruel decree, the Jewish people gathered to fast and pray. They knew that three things help to annul a cruel decree: Repentance, Prayer and Charity. So they prayed with greater enthusiasm and gave more charity than they had done before.

The Jewish people gathered in the synagogues, and prayed that the Holy One, blessed be He would help them in their time of need, while the ruthless king was looking forward with great pleasure to the public ceremony he had prepared for the hanging of a Jewish man named Mordechai.

That night the king had much trouble falling asleep. When he finally dozed off, he awoke just as the clock struck two and was terrified to see an old man dressed in a flowing robe and a long white beard standing near his bed, with a mysterious smile on his face.

For many hours he walked around the dismal cemetery feeling hopeless as low hanging branches tangled in his hair and brambles tore his clothes. He was also plagued by hunger and thirst. His hands were sore and scratched as he tried unsuccessfully to climb the high walls.

He called for help again, but all that came back was a deadly silence.

Suddenly he saw the old man he had seen in his royal bedroom. The stranger was carrying a basket of bread in one hand and a jug of water in the other. This time, the king was happy to see him, and he begged him to save him from his desperate situation.

The old man paid no attention to the king. He just left the bread and water and disappeared into the mist.

The following morning, after a most frightful night, the old man came again, bringing bread and water and then disappearing in the mist. The same thing happened on the third day. This time, the old man asked the king: “Do you wish to say anything?”

The king, torn by shame, fell to the feet of the old man and begged him for mercy.

“I have sinned terribly against the innocent Jewish people in my country,” the king said. “But I swear that I will abolish the decree against them and will treat them with justice and kindness in the future. Please, free me from this terrible forsaken place, I can bear it no longer.”

“If you will give me this promise in writing, with your signature, I will free you and you will again be king in your country,” the old man replied.