Passing the Test Part I The following story is from the Midrash. There was an elderly Jew who reached the end of his life. He was a prosperous man and planned on leaving his only son a vast inheritance. Shortly before he passed away, he summoned his son to his

Ezra’s Sefer Torah Yechezkel was a Jew who lived in the era of the Geonim and resided in the city where Rav Shrira Gaon lived. Yechezkel’s prized possession was an heirloom sefer Torah written by Ezra Hasofer, which had been passed down in his family for generations. The sefer Torah

The Rebbe’s Brachah On paper, their lives were practically perfect. Beautiful home, beautiful marriage. Wealth, respect, a close-knit community. They were generous and kind, pious and noble. Success seemed to follow their every move. The only thing R’ Shea and his wife, Hinda lacked were children. While they were grateful

The Chofetz Chaim’s Self Conversation Rav Hillel Zaks, a grandchild of the Chofetz Chaim, lived in his illustrious grandfather’s home until he was nine years old. Although he was very young, he retained certain memories regarding his experiences with the Chofetz Chaim. He related the following story to Rav Sholom

Lost and Found Shlomo was a businessman, prosperous and successful. Much of his wealth could be attributed to the large establishment he ran adjacent to the central transit station. All public transportation operated out of this station, strategically positioned in the hub of a large, well-located city. Horses and coaches

Rebbe Reb Elimelech- Busha The rebbe Reb Elimelech and the rebbe Reb Zusha were brothers, and they were tremendous tzaddikim. They were so elevated, that to others, they were almost angels. People would comment that the only reason they were in a physical body was so that others should see

About a hundred and fifty years ago, in a small shtetl, everyone was occupied with preparing themselves for seven weeks to properly celebrate the holy yom tov of Shavuos. The more learned men increased the intensity of their learning; the more ignorant increased their charitable activities. Those in between strengthened

Dovid was a young man with a good head, and he was very successful in his learning. The custom in his hometown was that young men would learn in yeshiva until the age of seventeen, after which they would go into business or learn a trade. When Dovid turned seventeen,

After World War II, thousands of Holocaust survivors were left alone in the world, searching for a cousin, a distant relative, a neighbor; desperate to find someone from their prewar lives to reconnect with. Throughout the late Forties and early Fifties, numerous gatherings were held in the New York area

One Purim morning, after megillah, we gathered in the Yeshiva dining room, with Rav Shneur Kotler and Rav Sholom Schwadron. Rav Sholom relayed inspiring stories for close to three hours. The following is one of the stories he shared that day, which he heard directly from the protagonist himself. ***