יום שני, י״ד תמוז תשפ״וMonday, June 29, 2026
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Soon it was time for the cutting of the omer. However, to the great dismay of the people, there was not one among the Kohanim who knew where a barley field could be found.
This person was hotheaded and exclaimed: “You mind your own affairs; I will do as I please!”
Reb David kept quiet and paid no attention to her requests, for he didn’t have a penny in his pocket.
The prisoner is one of the most honorable people in the country. Even your governor will testify to that fact.
When the first night of Pesach arrived, Rabi Pinchas pleasantly surprised to see his table brilliantly lit up and more food than he had ever seen.
A rock sprang up near the place where Choni lay fast asleep and the rock grew up high in the form of a tent, until it encircled him completely.
Rabi Elazar looked down from his mule and perceived that the stranger was truly the ugliest man he had ever seen.
“I will tell you,” answered Rabi Zakkai. “All my life I have attempted to behave in purity and holiness. I never insulted or dishonored my fellowman. Finally, I never missed saying Kiddush on Shabbos.”
“But,” the people protested, “many have attempted to do as you advise and we see that they have not been able to succeed.”
Rabi Yehoshua attempted to reassure the hesitant man, “Fear not, my son. Your home and your possessions will be safe..."
Despite his refusal to bow to people, Rav Chaim was a humble and patient man and forgiving to those who insulted him.
“I have never understood this comment of Rashi. Why in the same context does Rashi explain ‘brothers’ to mean ‘sons’ and then ‘comrades’?
He loved Daniel very much, but was helpless to do anything in the face of all of his ministers and soldiers.
Rabi Akiva found the woman and saw that her son was indeed ignorant. With the mother’s permission, he circumcised the son and began to teach him all that a Jewish child should know.
He found a non-Jew who had a mule to sell and a bargain was quickly struck. Happily, Shimon Ben Shetach rode home thinking: “Now I can do my work quickly and have all the extra time to devote to teaching my students Torah.”
But suddenly, now that I am a maggid, a man of Torah, the distance becomes very near. How did the land in between suddenly become lost? How is it that from far it became near?
One day, a woman came to me to rent my mule. She gave me the few coins I normally charge for its hire. But as she turned away, leading the animal behind her, I heard her sob. I walked over to her and asked why she was crying.
If I angrily punished him for insulting me in his time of bitterness, then people would begin to question my objectivity and my judgment.
In his youth, tradition tells us, he lived the life of a pauper. Many a week he would fast two days, and even during his fast he would sit in the beis midrash and continue his studies.
“You can have your choice,” said the wise king. “You can choose to take this gold, 100 pieces each, or I can give you each three pieces of advice.”
A search of the premises failed to turn up any sign of the money and suspicion was directed against the shamash who had access to the entire house.
The day of the bidding for the franchise arrived and the community decided to make one last attempt to get Aptov to change his mind.
“This way I am purchasing Olam Habah with the mitzvah of building a mikvah,” the rich man explained.
The agent’s plan proved to be successful. Rich people began to respect him more and more. They increased the size of their donations. One wealthy patron, however, refused to give him any money at all.
You are constantly urging people to give charity, and you are instrumental in providing them with great mitzvos.
Rabi Chanina prayed and suddenly the room became brilliantly lit and a huge hand appeared and snatched the golden leg and disappeared with it.
Naturally, when these angels are called upon to testify concerning the life of the man who created them, being liars, they tell all sorts of false tales concerning this man.
After he finished he said to them, “Had I not familiarized myself with the subject you would have put me to public shame.”
The people trembled in fear. But standing at the side during the whole conversation was young Naftali – who understood Polish and overheard everything that had been said.
All day they prayed; all day they fasted. It was to no avail. The skies remained as before, the rain locked in and the land still thirsty.
Suddenly, it appears that the Satan has become pious. In addition, he causes you to gossip, which in itself is a terrible sin.
A miracle occurred throughout the world: all the waters in wells, caves, rivers and even in glasses also divided and remained so until Bnei Yisrael passed through the sea.
While still a young man, his fame spread quickly and many communities wished for him to lead them.
By having a powerful army ready and prepared to do battle at a moment’s notice. But he should be discreet in using the army. He should carry a big stick but speak softly.
Aristeas remained in Jerusalem viewing the sights. He was honored by being permitted to view the services in the Temple when the priests officiated.
Onkelos, however, was unhappy. Something within his soul told him that his life was empty and lacking in the important things that make one’s existence meaningful.
Choni was astounded at what he had heard. “Apparently, I must have been sleeping for 70 years,” he thought to himself.
I ask myself how I dared to accept the lofty position of rav in this community when I know that I am not worthy of it.
When Reb Aryeh Leib heard this he said, “Congratulations, you have succeeded in hitting upon the same answer as the Vilna Gaon.”
But the furious merchant would not listen to his word and slapped him across the face – twice! Rav Avraham Abush suffered the blows in silence, refusing to use his name or prestige to protect himself.
Even on the coldest and snowiest days one could see Rav Avraham Abush standing at someone’s front door, asking for help for a needy person.
They all gathered in the main synagogue to formulate a plan of action. At the height of the discussion, someone suggested using Nachumka.
Rav Ephraim Zalman would therefore dress modestly – he would not purchase silk or satin clothes, which were very expensive, although he could well afford it.
The Ibn Ezra awoke with a start. Rushing into his library he picked up a sefer given to him by a talmid. Sure enough, it attempted to prove that Shabbos was to be observed from Saturday morning until Sunday morning.
Every day a casket filled with gold would be lowered from the walls of Jerusalem and in return the army of Aristobulos would send up cattle for the korbanos.
I am the daughter of Rav Nechuniah, the one who has dug all the wells and water holes for the people, and I fell into this pit last night. Please help me to get out of here for I cannot do it alone.
All the disciples were eager to accompany their master and they all piled into the coach.
Before the startled eyes of the people, she rushed at her son and began to beat and slap him.
What is so great about being able to fill a kiddush cup from a bottle of wine? Let us see if you can use your wisdom to fill the kiddush cup from an empty bottle.
Nadav was lifted on the horse and he hung on for dear life as the soldiers charged swiftly through the city streets.
Our sages have advised us that we should repent one day before we die. Inasmuch as no persons knows when he is to die, he should therefore consider every day his last day.
They praise the man who, in the midst of his sorrows and suffering, does not lift up his voice in complaint to G-d...
“Suddenly the Baal Shem Tov looked out of the window and exclaimed, ‘We too have a spiritual soul to save! Hurry get the coach and horses ready – we have a journey to make.’
The yearning of man is to do kindness’ refers to the fact that all people, especially the poor, want to do good deeds.
How is it possible that the two contradictory events, happiness and tragedy, evoke the same reaction?
Both giants of Torah rose higher and higher in the intellectual battle, each one asking and the other answering.
He would often ask: “Why is it that all the tractates of the Talmud begin with page two and not page one?”
Why does your G-d grow angry at the idolaters? Is it not more logical for Him to pour out His wrath upon the idols themselves?
Whatever the heathens have made has not been for the good of the world but only for their own pleasures.
Ordering his servants to take Moshe out of the pit, he had him brought to his home, where he was bathed and given fresh clothing.
A few stragglers managed to stagger back to Mitzrayim where they told the whole tragic story.
The agent, watching his behavior, thought to himself, “Could this man, who appears so poor, have so much oil to sell? Surely the people in town were making fun of me.”
Rav Chaim gave him wine to drink and sat him near the fire to thaw out. He then gave him a meal and prepared a bed for him to sleep in.
The Chofetz Chaim, the great Rav Yisroel Meir HaCohen, was known throughout the world for his scholarship and understanding of human nature, and as an energetic, wise leader of the Jewish people. Towards the end of his life, he led the Jewish community of Poland and his beloved little town of Radin through the dark […]
When the Almighty saw the man’s struggles, He took pity on him and told Eliyahu Hanavi to give him four zuzim (coins).
One of the tasks of great Torah leaders is to inspire their students to go out into the Jewish community and fight for the observance of Torah and mitzvos.
Thank G-d, I was sitting by the window when you came in and I was able to save you from sin.
When he was not yet 10 years old, tragedy struck and he lost both his parents. Alone in the world, he was fortunate to have a cousin, Reb David of Tarnow, who took him in.
Rabi Yosi heard all this in silence but Rabi Shimon was constrained to answer.
The bereaved woman felt that some punishment was due her and she appealed to the rabbanim to punish her.
Rav Yosef Hochgelanter was the rav of the city of Zamushet. He was a great scholar and the author of Mishnas Chachamim. When he was chosen as rav, he was the son-in-law of a very wealthy man who was proud to support him. As he did not need it, he took the position with the […]
No, it is not so, I am an honest and God-fearing Jew. Because of this I returned your lost wallet to you. If you do not wish to give me the reward I gladly waive all right to it. I only ask that you do not accuse me falsely.
I’ll pay you whether you cure her or kill her, shouted the loyal husband.
Mercenary soldiers would enter Jewish homes at will and take everything they could lay their hands on. Anyone who protested was shot.
Rabi Chanina prayed and suddenly the room became brilliantly lit and a huge hand appeared and snatched the golden leg and disappeared with it.
The simple man was very impressed with these stories and the following morning he told his wife that he was preparing a sumptuous feast for erev Yom Kippur.
Not only did Rav Avraham give tzedakah himself, but he also sought to get others to give as well.
With that type of charity you shouldn’t come unto G-d. It is not sufficient; you must also try to help other poor people.
The man was still unconvinced, but he went to the room he rented and hoped that Rabi Shimon was correct.
He then complained to the emperor that the Jews were rebelling against him.
The woman felt relieved and she departed, thanking him profusely.
I am warning you that as of now, if you do not sell 100 percent pure milk, without water added, I will declare an issur, a ban, upon you all, and no Jew will partake of your milk.
The groom was happy about the fulfillment of the pledge and the wedding ceremony was held. They danced and made merry the entire night.
I will stop by your place of business tomorrow and you can give me some money at that time.
It appeared that she and her husband were getting a divorce and a sum of money was in dispute, which she now turned over to the rav for safekeeping.
Who can count the number who died? Who can number those who succumbed to the tortures and embraced Christianity in order to escape the pain and suffering?
Three days later the man died. The following week his son had a dream in which he saw his father in a very happy frame of mind.
Making sure he did not awaken his father, he returned to the room where the sages sat and said, I am afraid that I cannot sell you the gem.
The question bothered him very much and he decided to go to the town square where all the poor were gathered and ask them.
Going to the Bais HaMikdash, Yosef Ben Yoezer’s son showed the magnificent diamond to the Kohanim. They were stunned by its brilliance and beauty and could hardly speak.
In the middle of the voyage, a terrible storm arose and the ship began to sink. They all barely managed to scramble aboard a lifeboat.
Rabi Yochanan immediately dismounted from the mule, wrapped himself in his tallis and sat down on a stone beneath an olive tree.
Rav Hershel was perplexed. While he could tell from the fine features and behavior of the merchant that he was the true merchant and being victimized by a scoundrel, he had no proof.
The bidding reached the sum of 500 rubles. When the bidding stopped at this figure the shammos announced an anonymous bid to top it.
Why does one escape death and the other does not? Because one prayed and was answered and the other prayed and was not answered. Why was one answered and the other not?
He was so persuasive that he managed to convince the landlord. The prisoner was ordered freed.
When word reached the Jewish community they began to tremble. They knew only too well the meaning of the king’s threat.
The Magid Reb Pinchas of Kuritz despised falsehood and haughtiness and he loved honesty. He would usually say, “Arise very early in the morning to pray before the sun fills the world with its rays and people arise to begin the day with deceit and falsehood." Once during a cold wintry morning, he heard a […]
June 26, 2026 
