Amongst the great tzaddikim throughout the generations whom klal Yisroel had merited to have in their midst was the holy Arizal. He was a student of the great Shita Mekubetzes for six years, where he rapidly advanced in his learning. His talmidim testified about him that he knew the entire

There was a man, whom we’ll call Yosef, who earned his livelihood through serving as a malshin, an informant. Indeed, this was a very profitable occupation. As an insider living within the Jewish community, it wasn’t difficult for him to chance upon other Jews breaking the law or committing minor

The two tzaddikim, Rav Elimelech and Rav Zisha, were brothers, and each had his own path of greatness. Rav Elimelech was a famous rebbe, who dressed in silk bekeshes and presided over tishen attended by thousands of admirers. His greatness was well-known, his sefer Noam Elimelech widely studied, and legends

In the era that our story takes place, the Jews were suffering from a double enemy. The Catholics, sworn enemies of the Jewish people, had banded up with the Muslims, also vicious anti-Semites, with the sole agenda to cause the Jews as much anguish as possible. The joint and powerful

Other than his utter poverty, Dovid had everything going for him. He had a beautiful marriage, wonderful children, good health, and a sharp mind. Blessed with pristine middos, genuine fear of Heaven, and a quick grasp of Gemarah, he was a talmid chacham of the highest caliber. However, the shadow

During the times of the holy Arizal and Rav Shlomo Alkabetz, the Baal Lechah Dodi, there was a woman who suddenly developed a strange and unexplained illness. She took to her bed in terrible pain and seemed to be suffering from hallucinations. A thorough medical examination did nothing to explain

Preserving the Chain The Midrash brings a story about an elderly man whom it calls a chassid, one who does mitzvos not just according to the strict letter of the law, but also above and beyond the basic halacha. This chassid, whom we’ll call R’ Binyomin, was already seventy years

Yossel was a wealthy talmid chacham who lived in Galicia. Although he was not a chassid, he had heard about the Baal Shem Tov, and one day, he suddenly found himself with a burning desire to meet with him. He instructed his driver to prepare the horses for a long

Shabbos in Siberia My older brother, R’ Paysach Krohn, has merited to write many books that were well-received in the Jewish world, such as The Maggid Speaks series, and Around the Maggid’s Table. The following is a story from Around the Maggid’s Table which I read recently. The Second World

Torah Through Tears Avrohom Abish was a sweet and delightful child, but he could not read. This was in the days before dyslexia and reading problems were diagnosed issues, and Avrohom Abish’s inability to read stumped his parents and those around him. His brothers and all the other children in