Jewish stories for children of all ages

When two brothers inherit a farm from their father, they share the work and share the harvest. When each decides that the other deserves a larger share, Hashem takes notice.

Getzel Shlomo was a humble beggar in the town of Harki, but when he issues a strange request to the chevra kadisha before his passing, it becomes apparent that he was actually much more than he seemed.

A wealthy merchant disappears while on a lengthy voyage, and it is up to his son to find out what happened to his beloved father. After the discovery is made, the son must prove his identity as the true heir when his father's former servant emerges as a pretender to the estate.

When the Berditchever Rebbe takes his talmidim on a journey, they are surprised to learn that the mustachioed villian who rushes out of his house to attack them is the purpose of the trip. They are even more surprised to learn that the man is a wayward Jew, who soon decides to make some major changes in his life.

Leah and her grandmother earn money by washing clothes at the river for their neighbors. One day, Leah runs after a bluebird that sings so beautifully and becomes lost in the forest. After Leah's grandmother visits Shlomo HaMelech to ask the King to bring the bluebird to justice and restore Leah to her, they discover an amazing sight and find out the secret of the bluebird's magical song.

A poor melamed collects for hachnosas kallah one summer, only to be waylaid on his return journey home by a robber. Feeling like he has no choice, he hands over the money and then asks for a moment to daven. The wise melamed is soon on his way, with the money.

When the Spanish King's faithful counselor falls gravely ill, he is visited by the cardinal, who whispers a strange prayer in his ear. After the counselor's unexpected recovery, he has some very strong questions for the cardinal that lead to a new life for both of them.

Reb Meir Anschel Rothschild once made a large sum of money "hefker", public property, whereupon it was picked up by the Chacham Tzvi. The mishna describes a person who has no hope of recovering their money as being "like someone who placed their money on the horns of a fleeing deer". In this case, it was a very good idea!

A weary traveler stops at Reb Nochum's inn for a bite, but refuses the offer of a bed and a donation. He shares his tale of woe and leaves, only to return some months later with good news to share.

Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke was a talmid of the Mezritcher Maggid who became the Rov of Nikolsburg and the Chief Rabbi of Moravia. After a community dispute puts the Rabbi's position in jeopardy, the old shamash ends the dispute with a tale of a mysterious event that occurred some years before.

Reb Berel and his good wife have everything except the one thing that would make them truly happy- a child. The Rebbe tells Berel to go to Twersk on his next business trip, where Berel becomes lost and then finds out why the Rebbe made this unusual suggestion.

Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzhin inherited the tefillin of his grandfather, the Maggid of Mezritch. After the Ruzhiner's passing, the tefillin went on a long journey and became lost in a war, only to be returned to their owner, the Tchortkover Rebbe, by a mysterious soldier.

Holofernes, the ruthless Seleucid general, has besieged the Judean town of Besulia to crush the rebellious citizenry. With no food or water, the townspeople grow more despondent with each passing day. But Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan the Kohein Godol, has a plan to rid the world of Holofernes and save the town.

Rabbi Yaakov Vidal and his family, including their daughter Miriam, fled the Spanish Inquisition for the safety of Constantinople. When a member of the Sultan's court sets eyes on Miriam, he decides to ask for permission to marry her- when he is refused, he embarks on a plot that threatens all of the Jews of the city.

Once, shortly before Kol Nidrei, the Berditchever Rebbe Rabbi Levi Yitzchok asked if anyone in the shul came from Pilova? A dairy farmer from Ravnitz, near Pilova, stepped forward and told his tale, bringing a smile to the face of the Berditchever and a good sealing for all the Jews on Yom Kippur.

Ber the Lumber Merchant is known as "the white bear" due to a fright he had as a young man that turned his hair white. When a newcomer tries to undermine Ber and take away his business, Ber goes to his Rebbe for advice and the newcomer gets an even bigger fright.

When two ruffians plot to start a pogrom by kidnapping a non-Jewish child, the community becomes anxious until young Chaim Shimon takes it upon himself to find out more. His courage sees the ruffians punished and the Jews saved, for which he earns the title "Hero".

A wealthy merchant and his wife yearn for a child, so they prepare a perfect sefer Torah and donate it to the shul, only to be shocked when the Torah they have labored over for so long appears to be missing a line. The rabbi's dream gives them the comfort they need, and Hashem rewards them for their emunah.

Avremel's parents had promised the Rebbe that their son would only use his wonderful singing voice to serve Hashem, so when Graf Boris demands that Avremel perform a concert for his guests, they go back to their Rebbe for advice. Everyone, including Graf Boris, is happy with the results.

Rabbi Boruch sends his talmid Yankel Koslover on a mysterious mission when Yankel questions his master's statement that Hashem is found everywhere, even in a place of dirt and poverty. Soon, Yankel finds himself trapped for weeks in a most unappealing place, where he learns a very deep lesson indeed.

When a young boy loses the power of speech, his desperate father goes from doctor to doctor until the Alter Rebbe sends him to Metz in search of a lumber merchant. The father doesn't ask questions, but they make their way to Metz and eventually meet with a truly remarkable baker.

When the holy Baal Shem Tov speaks to a stranger, the students think the stranger must be a tzaddik, so they introduce themselves to him later, but far from being a tzaddik, he's an ordinary Jew with an extraordinary lesson to teach the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov.

The holy Baal Shem Tov decides to teach his talmidim about proper hospitality, so they travel to visit a lone Jew in a remote town who also teaches them how precious all mitzvos truly are.

Black Johann, the master blacksmith of the Hapsburg Empire, is dead and competitors for the vacant job gather every two weeks at the Golden Eagle Inn to try to fill Black Johann's shoes. When Red Willem, a notorious agitator against the Jews of his country, applies for the job, young Israel of Burgos steps up to prevent Red Willem from winning the prestigious role.

Avraham is a cloth merchant who is as kind as he is poor- when the Rebbe visits, Avraham's mazel changes, but unfortunately his attention to others changes as well, until the Rebbe shares a valuable lesson.