Prayers of a Man throughout His Life

Posted on Monday, 18, January, 2021Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

An old man sat with some of his friends around a fire and began to reflect upon his life.

He began, “All blessings begin with “Blessed are You – as though man was addressing a close friend. (Sefer Raziel haGadol 8b, 13th cent). The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair. ‘ (Proverbs 20:29) When I was young I was full of fire. I studied and learned the most marvelous things. ‘Blessed be the L-rd…who alone does wondrous things.’ (Psalms 72:18) I would ‘Recite a hundred blessings a day.’ (Menachos 43b) I wanted to share with everyone. I prayed to The Holy One, blessed be He to give me the strength to change the world. Every day was a struggle, but I had the strength of youth and the energy to spare.’ ”

“Years went by and on day I woke up and realized my life was half over and I had changed no one. I was not as strong as I was nor was I able to move around easily. The distractions of the world no longer appealed to me. ‘Blessed are You…who distinguishes between holy and profane.’ (Berachos 29a) So I prayed to The Holy One, blessed be He to give me the strength to change those close around me who so much needed it.’ “

Alas, now I am old and I am unable to stand and travel, my joints ache and I have little to no energy. Please ‘Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.’ (Psalms 71:9) Now my prayer is simple, I ask the Holy One, blessed be He, to please give me the strength to at least change myself. ‘ “

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 Blessed Shalom Bayis Kugel

Posted on Thursday, 14, January, 2021Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

The holy rabbi’s wife was extremely thrifty, but very spiritual. When she davened (prayed), she was transported into another world.

The rebbetzin would put the bare minimum of schmaltz (chicken fat) into the kugel. The holy rabbi would always ask her to increase the amount of schmaltz in the kugel. His requests went unheeded.

One Friday, when the rebbetzin was davening, The holy rabbi removed the keys from her apron pocket, unlocked the pantry, and put several spoonfuls of schmaltz into the kugel. He then returned the keys, and the rebbetzin was completely unaware to all of this.

Shabbos morning, when she served the kugel, the rebbetzin said, “See! You always criticize me for not putting enough schmaltz into the kugel. But look at the Divine blessing. The kugel is dripping with schmaltz!”

The holy rabbi nodded. “It is indeed a Divine blessing,” he said. “We merited this blessing by virtue of deine shtark tefillos un meine maasim tovim — your fervent davening and my good deeds.”

Potato kugel

Overnight Potato Kugel

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup schmaltz or oil		1-2 medium onion, grated
8 extra large eggs		1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
5 lbs. potatoes, grated		¼ – ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in pan on medium heat (do not allow oil to get real hot)

Grate potatoes and onion (or use a food processor, process the potatoes and onions until almost smooth but not liquidy). Add to the eggs along with salt and pepper.

Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Pour the hot oil into potato-egg mixture and mix until fully mixed.

Pour mixture into the pan and bake at 400° until the top is brown, about 1 hour.

Remove from the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 200°. Cover the kugel tightly with foil.

Return pan to the oven. Place a pan of water (cold) on the rack underneath the kugel and continue baking at least 4 hours or overnight.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Mother’s Journey

Posted on Tuesday, 12, January, 2021Friday, 24, November, 2023 by Rabbi

The young mother began her journey on the path of life. “Is the way long?”, she asked.

“Yes,” answered her Guide, “and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But—” He stopped to smile warmly. “The end will be better than the beginning.

The young mother was so happy, though, that she could not believe anything could be better than these early years. She played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and swam with them in the clear streams. The sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.

Then the darkness of night came, and the storm’s fury with its howling winds, thunder and lightning, and the path was dark and forbidding. The children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close to her, covering them with her mantle. Her children said, “Oh, Mother, we are not afraid when you are near.” The mother said, “This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage.

Then the morning came, and there was a steep hill before them. The children climbed and grew tired. The mother was exhausted, but she kept encouraging her children, “Just a little farther and we will be there.” So the children kept on climbing. When they reached the top, they said, “We could not have done it without you, Mother.” And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked past the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last. My children have learned determination in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I taught them courage, today I have taught them about strength.

With the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth—clouds of war, discrimination, hatred and fear. The children cast about in the confusion and stumbled every so often. The mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes past the blackness to the Light.” The children looked up and saw an Everlasting Glory above the strange clouds. It guided them and brought them through the darkness and evil. Their mother always encouraged them to be “be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed,” (Joshua 1:9). That night the mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have helped my children learn about the Holy One, blessed be He.”

The days went by, the weeks turned to months and the months passed to years. The mother grew old, until she was very little and bent. Her children had grown tall and strong, and they walked with courage. They remembered the teaching “do not despise your mother when she is old. (Proverbs 23:22)

When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather. At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and magnificent gate open on top of the hill.

The mother said, “l have reached the end of my journey. Now I know that the end really is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them.

The children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.

They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates slowly closed after her. They said, “We can’t see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than just a memory.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Wonderful Hand Mill

Posted on Thursday, 7, January, 2021Thursday, 28, March, 2024 by Rabbi

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there were two brothers, one rich and the other poor. One Friday morning, the poor brother had not a bite in the house for Shabbos, either of meat or bread, so he went to his brother and begged him, in the merit of Shabbos, to give him something for the holy day. It was by no means the first time that the brother had been forced to give something to his less fortunate brother, and he was not very happy about it.

“If you will do what I ask you, you shall have challahs and two whole chickens,” the wealthy brother said. The poor brother immediately thanked him, and promised to do as his bother asked.

“Well, here are the challahs and the chickens, and now you must go straight to the ancient cave in the hills known as Black Hole Cave,” instructed the rich brother, throwing the food to him.

“Well, I will do what I have promised,” said the poor brother, and he took the food and set off. He traveled the narrow path for many hours.

Outside the ancient cave was an old man with a long white beard chopping wood.

“Shalom Aleichem, (Peace be unto you)” said the poor brother.

“Aleichem shalom (Ubto you, Peace). Where are you going at this late hour, Shabbos is coming very soon?” asked the old man.

“I am going to Black Hole Cave, if only I am on the right track,” answered the poor man.

“Oh! Yes, you are right enough, for it is here,” said the old man. “When you get inside they will all want to buy your chicken, for they don’t get much meat to eat there; but you must not sell the chicken unless you can get the hand-mill which stands behind the door for it. When you come out again I will teach you how to use the hand-mill, which is useful for almost everything.”

So the man with the chickens thanked the other for his good advice, and rapped at the door.

When he got in, everything happened just as the old man had said it would: all the people, great and small, came round him like ants on an ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other for the chicken.

“By rights my wife and I should have these chickens for Shabbos dinner, but, since you have set your hearts upon it, I will sell my chickens to you for the hand-mill which is standing there behind the door.”

At first they would not hear of this, and haggled and bargained with the man, but he stuck to what he had said, and the people were forced to give him the hand-mill. When the man came out again into the yard, he asked the old wood-cutter how he was to use the hand-mill, and when he had learned that, he thanked him and set off home with all the speed he could, but did not get there until right before candle lighting time.

“Where in the world have you been?” asked his wife. “I have been waiting for you all day and have nothing to prepare for Shabbos dinner.”

“I have been very busy and have something to show you.” said the man, as he set the hand-mill on the table, and told it first grind a white table-cloth, and then wine, and everything else that was good for Shabbos dinner. The mill ground all that he ordered. “Bless our house” said the wife as one thing after another appeared. The husband made Kiddush and began to enjoy the festive meal. His wife wanted to know where her husband had got the mill from, but he would not tell her.

“Don’t worry yourself about this blessing from Heaven” he told her as he invited everyone to enjoy the food throughout Shabbos.

Now when the rich brother saw all the fine food in his poor brother’s house, he was both annoyed and angry, He was very jealous of everything his poor brother had. “Before Shabbos he was so poor that he came to me and begged for a little food, and now he gives a feast as if he were a wealthy merchant.” He thought to himself.

After Shabbos, the wealthy man paid is brother a visit, “Tell me where you got your riches from,” he begged his brother. “From behind the door in the Black Hole Cave,” he answered. He really did not want to tell his brother. Throughout the meal the poor brother drank much wine and could not refrain from telling how he had come by the hand-mill.

He brought out the mill, and made it grind first one thing and then another. When the brother saw that, he insisted on having the mill, and after a great deal of persuasion got it; but he had to give three hundred gold coins for it, and the poor brother was to keep it until Rosh Chodesh – the new month. He believed that the mill would grind out food and wine that would last throughout the year. At the end of Rosh Chodesh the rich brother came to get the mill, but the other had taken good care not to teach him how to stop it.

It was evening when the rich man got the mill home, and in the morning he told his wife to go into the market, and he would attend to the house himself.

So, when dinner-time drew near, he set the mill on the kitchen-table, and said: “Grind boiled potatoes and sour cream, and do it both quickly and well.”

So the mill began to grind boiled potatoes and sour cream, and first all the dishes and tubs were filled, and then it came out all over the kitchen-floor. The man twisted and turned it, and did all he could to make the mill stop, but he could not. In a short time the sour cream rose so high that the man was like to be drowned. So he threw open the door and was pushed out the door as the sour cream and boiled potatoes spilled out over his farm and fields.

Now the rich man’s wife was returning from the market and was met by the tide of potatoes and sour cream pouring forth spreading as far as the eye could see. The rich man went quickly to his brother’ house and begged him to take the mill back again, saying, “If it grinds one hour more the whole district will be destroyed by boiled potatoes and sour cream.” But the brother would not take it until the other paid him three hundred gold coins.

Now the poor brother had both the money and the mill again. So it was not long before he had a farmhouse much finer than that in which his brother lived, but the mill ground so much that all his needs were met. He and his wife welcomed all travelers and anyone in need to their home where they provided for all the needs the people required.

They were blessed for the rest of their years with happiness and plenty.

Jewish recipes

Bukharan Chicken and Rice Plov

Plov is a signature dish of the Bukharan Jewish community of Central Asia. Often slow cooked in a wood-burning oven, it is served to guests as a symbol of hospitality for Shabbat, holidays and at special life events, including weddings.

INGREDIENTS

5 tablespoons oil (enough to cover bottom of pot)		2 to 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken (cut into small bite-size squares)
3 onions (peeled, trimmed and chopped)		1 1/2 teaspoons salt (divided)
6 carrots (peeled and grated thick)		1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon sugar		2 1/2 cups medium grain rice (such as Basmati)
1-3 teaspoons Cumin		½ – 1 ½ teaspoon(s) cinnamon
3 1/2 cups boiling water (enough to cover the rice by 1/2 inch)

DIRECTIONS

In a Dutch oven or large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, and then the carrots. Stir in the sugar. Sauté until the onions are translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Lay the chicken on top of the onions and carrots. Don’t stir to maintain a layer of vegetables and a distinct layer of meat. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and pepper on the chicken. Cook the chicken, gently turning the pieces over in the middle, until the chicken turns white.

Add rice on top of the chicken. Don’t stir because the layers of vegetables and chicken should remain undisturbed, but distribute the rice evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add boiling water. Turn the heat down to low and cover.

After about 15 minutes, scrape down the sides and poke 6 or 7 holes through the rice to the bottom of the pot with the handle of a wooden spoon. Cover and cook for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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A Father’s Burden

Posted on Tuesday, 5, January, 2021Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

It is an honour for children and fathers to be with one another (Exodus Rabbah 34:3)

A young boy was helping his father move some books out of room to a large bookshelf downstairs. It was important to this little boy that he was helping his father, even though he was probably getting in the way and slowing things down more than he was really helping. That boy had a wise and patient father who knew it was much more important to work together with his young son than it was to move a pile of books efficiently.

Among the many books, there were some very large heavy books, and it was a hard for the boy to get them down the stairs. As a matter of fact, on one particular load, the boy dropped his pile of books several times. Finally, he sat down on the stairs and cried because he was ashamed and disappointed in himself. He wasn’t doing well at all. He just wasn’t strong enough to carry the big books down the steps. It hurt him to think he couldn’t do this for his father. All he wanted to do was help his father and make him proud.

Without a word, the father picked up the dropped load of books, put them into the boy’s arms, and scooped up both the boy and the books into his arms and carried them down the stairs. They continued doing this for load after load, both enjoying each other’s company very much. The boy carrying the books, the father carrying the boy.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Magical Mejedra

Posted on Thursday, 31, December, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Shabbat had just ended. “What would you like to eat?” the chacham’s wife asked. “It is time for Seudah Revi’it (the third Sabbath meal), the Melaveh Malkah meal, to say goodbye to the Shabbat queen.”

“I would love a plate filled with mejedra,” he replied. “I so enjoy that delicious delicacy of rice, onions and lentils delicately spiced and served together with yogurt!”

“Mejedra?” asked his wife. “It is so time consuming to make, do you really want me to prepare mejedra for you?”

“No, no,” answered her husband. “Of course not. You asked me what I wanted, so I just told you what I was in the mood for, not what I wanted you to bother preparing.” The chacham and his wife laughed together.

Their moment together aws interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The cook of a wealthy Jewish merchant entered the house. She was very upset, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“My mistress asked me to prepare a pot of mejedra,” she explained. “By mistake, I cooked it in a meat pot, and then added yogurt. Now, my mistress is very angry and wants to fire me, because she says the food is not kosher. I am a widow with four children to feed. Please, chacham, help me. Tell me what to do.”

The holy Chacham asked the cook a few detailed questions to understand exactly how the food had been prepared. After deliberating for a short while he declared, “The mejedra is kosher. There is nothing for you to worry about.”

The cook happily returned to her mistress’ house only to come back fifteen minutes later, knocking on the door. “My mistress did not believe me,” she explained. “My mistress claims that you only said it was kosher so that I would not be fired. She wants you to eat it, to prove that it is, indeed, kosher.”

“Then take my plate back to your mistress’ home,” he told her. “Bring me back a large portion filled with mejedra. You can then tell her that you saw me eat it, and she will understand that the food is kosher.”

After the cook left. The chacham’s wife spoke. “I am happy that you made peace between the cook and her mistress. I am truly amazed that the Holy One, blessed be He provided you with the very delicacy you wanted, at the very moment you said you wanted it.”

The holy chacham and his holy wife were blessed by Heaven because of their love of peace and love for one another. There was truly Shalom Bayit (peace within the home) in their house.

Mejedra

Mejedra, is a Middle Eastern, Sephardic comfort food. Warm and earthy, the slightly sweet and spicy flavor of well done caramelized onions with rice containing lentils is very satisfying. It is often eaten plain, as a side dish, or sometimes with yogurt for a special meal.

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups brown rice		2 strips lemon peel, about 2 inches long each
1 cup brown lentils		2 large onions, peeled and sliced thin
2 tsp cumin		1 tsp kosher salt, more or less to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, more or less to taste		1-2 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric		1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice		1 teaspoon sugar
2 bay leaves		1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the lentils. Reduce heat to medium and simmer the lentils till they are tender, but not soft or mushy (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and drain, then rinse in a colander with cold water.

In a large pot, heat 1/4 cup olive oil till hot enough for frying. Add the rice, olive oil, turmeric, allspice, cinnamon, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of black pepper. Stir to coat the rice with the oil and then add the cooked lentils and the water. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid, and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.

Add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then carefully pour it over the lentils and rice. Stir, raise heat on the large pot to medium high. Add bay leaves and lemon peel to the pot and bring water to a boil. Cover the pot. Reduce heat and let the rice steam at a low simmer for 20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed.

Turn off the rice, uncover the pot, fluff the rice with a fork, cover the pot again and let it sit for another 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat up 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Fry the onion slices over medium heat until they are soft and nicely caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.

Fluff the Mejedra with a fork again. Serve topped with the caramelized onions.

If you like the flavor of butter, you can substitute melted butter for olive oil. If you do this, please keep in mind that the dish becomes dairy rather than pareve.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Secret of the Yarmulkes

Posted on Thursday, 31, December, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

Many years ago in a simple house in the holy city of Jerusalem there lived a Jewish woman. Special people live in Jerusalem and are so steeped in holiness and spirituality that they have few physical needs. Their prayers and actions are an exceptional treasure.

One woman knew how to knit beautiful yarmulkes, and she was able to support her family. How were her yarmulkes different from others that were

sold in the market, so that the mothers of Jerusalem ran to buy hers?

She would knit the yarmulkes with the intent of hiddur mitzvah – to beautify a mitzvah. One may ask why? It says in the Torah, “This is my G-d and I will glorify them. (Exodus 15:2)”

The pious women saw that pious woman’s children were well behaved and succeeded in their Torah studies more than other children. They were truly pious and always tried to please their parents and teachers, and all the other women of course envied her. This was not the bad envy but the good kind, which the rabbis call “envy among scribes” and which leads a person to strive for greater piety. What mother would not want her children to be so sincere and pure like the holy woman’s children?

When the other women would ask her, “Please tell us, what is your secret? How did you succeed so well with your children baruch Hashem (bless G-d)) that they’re so good?” The holy woman would answer humbly, “My children are like all children. Are there any children that don’t sometimes misbehave?”

Possibly, her secret and the secret of her children’s piety and goodness would have remained concealed, except for a particular incident that happened. One of her children was playing with a friend in the common courtyard. The mother of the other boy was sitting nearby, cleaning beans and inspecting them for insects, when she overheard the holy woman’s son say to her son, “Exchange yarmulkes? No! Why should I do that? I don’t want to exchange my yarmulke for one bought in a store, even for a minute!”

“What makes your yarmulke so special that you don’t want to trade with me?” asked the neighbor’s son.

“Of course, my yarmulke’s special!” said the boy innocently, his big eyes flashing. “Do you know what my mother told me when she gave it to me? She said that every yarmulke she makes has many rows of knitting. And for every row she knits, she recites a psalm. And when she finishes knitting the yarmulke, she sheds tears into it and prays, ‘In the merit of the psalms that I recited while knitting, may my children and all Jewish children be pious!’”

The neighbor took in every word that this exceptional boy spoke. In just a few hours, every woman in the Jerusalem neighborhoods knew the holy woman’s secret, and they ran to her to buy her yarmulkes for their children. What mother wouldn’t give her last few coins for her child to be pious?

According to the Jewish tradition, all work should be holy work in the service of G-d. A devout person has divine intentions as he labors. How much more should that be true for people producing religious articles. Religious objects are not like ordinary objects. A yarmulke, for example, has a vibration that affects its wearer. There is a difference between a yarmulke made by a pious person who has prayerful, holy thoughts while making it and a machine-made object or an object created by a person without pious thoughts and motives. Religious people who want the true benefit of a yarmulke, mezuzah, or any other holy item are willing to pay for the careful labor of pious people, for what they create radiates holiness. The holy woman’s yarmulkes were actually holy vessels to transmit her prayers and her tears for the spiritual growth of Jewish children.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Justice, Love and Mercy

Posted on Tuesday, 29, December, 2020Friday, 27, December, 2024 by Rabbi

Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

Justice is not necessarily the law, but the spirit of what is right and wrong, but let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) Justice evolves and changes as it is applied with faith, values, and passion. True justice is tempered with mercy and love.

Centuries ago, it was known far and wide that a certain leader was the greatest of all the tribes. When power was measured by superior physical strength, the most powerful tribe was the one that had the strongest leader who defined justice for the people.

This tribal leader was especially known for his wisdom. To help his people live safely and peacefully, he carefully established laws and a system of justice guiding every aspect of tribal life. The leader enforced those laws strictly and, long ago, acquired a reputation for uncompromising justice.

In spite of the laws, there were problems. One day it came to the leader’s attention that someone in the tribe was stealing. He called the people together.
“You know that the laws are for your protection, to help you live safely and in peace,” he reminded them, his eyes heavy with sadness because of his love for them. This stealing must stop. We all have what we need. The penalty for the person caught stealing has been increased from ten to twenty lashes from the whip.

Then again, the thief continued to take things that didn’t belong to him, so the leader called all the people together again.

“Please hear me,” he pled with them. “This must stop. It hurts us all and makes us feel bad about each other. The penalty has been increased to thirty lashes.

Still, the stealing continued. The leader gathered the people together once more.

“Please, I’m begging you. For your sake, this has to stop. The pain it is causing among us is too great. The penalty has been increased to forty lashes from the whip.” The people knew of their leader’s great love for them, but only those closest to him saw the single tear make its way slowly down his face as he dismissed the gathering.

Finally, a man came to say the thief had been caught. The word had spread. Everyone had gathered to see who it was, and the thief was dragged through the crowd.

A single gasp raced through the crowd as the thief emerged between two guards. The tribal leader’s face fell in shock and grief. The thief was his very own mother, old and frail.

What will he do? the people wondered aloud, a hushed murmur fanning out. Would he uphold the law or would his love for his mother win over it? The people waited, talking quietly collectively holding their breath.

Finally their leader spoke. “My beloved people.” His voice broke. In little more than a whisper he continued, “It is for our safety and our peace. There must be forty lashes; the pain this crime has caused is too great.” With his nod, the guards led his mother forward. One gently removed her robe to expose a bony and crooked back. The appointed man stepped forward and began to unwind the whip.

At the same moment, the leader stepped forward and removed his robe as well, exposing his broad shoulders, seasoned and solid. Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around his dear mother, shielding her with his own body.

He whispered gently against her cheek as his tears blended with hers. He nodded once more, and the whip came down again and again.

A single moment, yet in that moment, love and justice found an eternal harmony.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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The Delayed Dinner and Shalom Bayis

Posted on Thursday, 17, December, 2020Tuesday, 20, September, 2022 by Rabbi

“A man comes home from work at the end of the day, very hungry. He sits down at the table, expecting his dinner. His wife appears and tells him that he should be patient because dinner is delayed. So he waits.

“After waiting for what seems like an eternity, she places a plate before him. He takes a look, and all he sees is a hard-boiled egg and a potato. Needless to say, he is quite perturbed. Here he waited patiently although he was so hungry, and all he gets is just plain old food, nothing special. Had he gotten something special, then he would have understood the delay. He leaves the table disappointed.

“Every morning, G‑d waits for His people to say their prayers” The diligent are quick to pray, aware of the immense privilege it is to be able to address the King above All kings.

“If one prays on time, then even if the prayers are not recited with the greatest concentration, the fact that they are recited on time makes them desirable to G‑d. When the prayers are said a bit late, but with great concentration, G‑d desires them as well, the extra devotion making it ‘worth the wait.’ However, if the prayers are late and without proper concentration, they are like the simple meal that the husband in the parable received. G‑d can be expected to look skeptically at such an offering!”

An old Jewish man who listened very carefully as the story was told. “With all due respect, holy rabbi,” he countered, “the husband’s reaction would be a harsh one if there wasn’t true harmony in the home. However, when a husband and wife really love each other, they understand when the other has a hard day. Perhaps the end of the parable should be that the husband graciously thanks his wife for the simple meal, and asks her to tell him about her day. In this way, G‑d is always ready to hear our prayers . . .”

Kugel

Vegetable Kugel

Ingredients:

2 large onions, diced		6 eggs
3-4 Tablespoons oil or shmaltz		1 Tablespoon salt
4 stalks celery, diced		½ Teaspoon ground black pepper
2 green peppers, diced		1 Tablespoon of Italian spices
1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced or chopped (optional)		1/8 – ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne pepper (optional)
4 carrots, shredded		8 large potatoes (4-5 lbs.), grated

Directions

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.		Continue beating and add spices.
5.		In a food processor or by hand using a box grater, grate the potatoes using the fine shredder. Transfer to the egg mixture. Add the sautéed vegetables. Mix thoroughly.
6.		Pour into a 9″x13″ pan. Bake for 40-60 minutes, until browned and crusty.

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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A Gift of Love

Posted on Tuesday, 15, December, 2020Tuesday, 5, December, 2023 by Rabbi

A young father punished his three-year old daughter for wasting a whole roll of holiday wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became angry when the child tried to decorate a box for a Chanukah gift. Still, the little girl proudly brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.” He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty.

He yelled at her, “Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside of the box?”

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses in the box. I filled it with my love. All for you, Daddy.”

The young father was crushed. He put his arms around his little daughter, and he begged her for forgiveness.

It has been some years and the little girl has grown up. That father kept that gold box from that Chanukah many years ago. Whenever he was sad or discouraged, he would take out one of the kisses and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Each child carries its own blessing into the world

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

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

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The Season of Lights – Chanukah is coming very quickly as it begins at Sundown On December 7, 2023.

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

An old man sat with some of his friends around a fire and began to reflect upon his life.

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

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The holy rabbi’s wife was extremely thrifty, but very spiritual. When she davened (prayed), she was transported into another world.

The rebbetzin would put the bare minimum of schmaltz (chicken fat) into the kugel. The holy rabbi would always ask her to increase the amount of schmaltz in the kugel. His requests went unheeded.

One Friday, when the rebbetzin was davening, The holy rabbi removed the keys from her apron pocket, unlocked the pantry, and put several spoonfuls of schmaltz into the kugel. He then returned the keys, and the rebbetzin was completely unaware to all of this.

Shabbos morning, when she served the kugel, the rebbetzin said, “See! You always criticize me for not putting enough schmaltz into the kugel. But look at the Divine blessing. The kugel is dripping with schmaltz!”

The holy rabbi nodded. “It is indeed a Divine blessing,” he said. “We merited this blessing by virtue of deine shtark tefillos un meine maasim tovim — your fervent davening and my good deeds.”

Overnight Potato Kugel

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup schmaltz or oil

1-2 medium onion, grated

8 extra large eggs

1 Tablespoon Kosher salt

5 lbs. potatoes, grated

¼ – ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in pan on medium heat (do not allow oil to get real hot)

Grate potatoes and onion (or use a food processor, process the potatoes and onions until almost smooth but not liquidy). Add to the eggs along with salt and pepper.

Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven. Pour the hot oil into potato-egg mixture and mix until fully mixed.

Pour mixture into the pan and bake at 400° until the top is brown, about 1 hour.

Remove from the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 200°. Cover the kugel tightly with foil.

Return pan to the oven. Place a pan of water (cold) on the rack underneath the kugel and continue baking at least 4 hours or overnight.

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 young mother began her journey on the path of life. “Is the way long?”, she asked.

“Yes,” answered her Guide, “and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But—” He stopped to smile warmly. “The end will be better than the beginning.

The days went by, the weeks turned to months and the months passed to years. The mother grew old, until she was very little and bent. Her children had grown tall and strong, and they walked with courage. They remembered the teaching “do not despise your mother when she is old. (Proverbs 23:22)

When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather. At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and magnificent gate open on top of the hill.

The mother said, “l have reached the end of my journey. Now I know that the end really is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them.

The children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.

They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates slowly closed after her. They said, “We can’t see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than just a memory.

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

“If you will do what I ask you, you shall have challahs and two whole chickens,” the wealthy brother said. The poor brother immediately thanked him, and promised to do as his bother asked.

“Well, here are the challahs and the chickens, and now you must go straight to the ancient cave in the hills known as Black Hole Cave,” instructed the rich brother, throwing the food to him.

“Well, I will do what I have promised,” said the poor brother, and he took the food and set off. He traveled the narrow path for many hours.

Outside the ancient cave was an old man with a long white beard chopping wood.

“Shalom Aleichem, (Peace be unto you)” said the poor brother.

“Aleichem shalom (Ubto you, Peace). Where are you going at this late hour, Shabbos is coming very soon?” asked the old man.

“I am going to Black Hole Cave, if only I am on the right track,” answered the poor man.

So the man with the chickens thanked the other for his good advice, and rapped at the door.

When he got in, everything happened just as the old man had said it would: all the people, great and small, came round him like ants on an ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other for the chicken.

“By rights my wife and I should have these chickens for Shabbos dinner, but, since you have set your hearts upon it, I will sell my chickens to you for the hand-mill which is standing there behind the door.”

“Where in the world have you been?” asked his wife. “I have been waiting for you all day and have nothing to prepare for Shabbos dinner.”

“Don’t worry yourself about this blessing from Heaven” he told her as he invited everyone to enjoy the food throughout Shabbos.

It was evening when the rich man got the mill home, and in the morning he told his wife to go into the market, and he would attend to the house himself.

So, when dinner-time drew near, he set the mill on the kitchen-table, and said: “Grind boiled potatoes and sour cream, and do it both quickly and well.”

They were blessed for the rest of their years with happiness and plenty.

Bukharan Chicken and Rice Plov

Plov is a signature dish of the Bukharan Jewish community of Central Asia. Often slow cooked in a wood-burning oven, it is served to guests as a symbol of hospitality for Shabbat, holidays and at special life events, including weddings.

INGREDIENTS

5 tablespoons oil (enough to cover bottom of pot)

2 to 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken (cut into small bite-size squares)

3 onions (peeled, trimmed and chopped)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt (divided)

6 carrots (peeled and grated thick)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon sugar

2 1/2 cups medium grain rice (such as Basmati)

1-3 teaspoons Cumin

½ – 1 ½ teaspoon(s) cinnamon

3 1/2 cups boiling water (enough to cover the rice by 1/2 inch)

DIRECTIONS