Shackled Body, Unfettered Soul

Until Milton Feist was fourteen years old, he was a regular American boy with similar interests and hobbies as the rest of his public school classmates. And then he was stricken with polio. Milton was lucky to survive with his life, but life as he knew it changed forever. He

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The View From Above

Rav Chaim Vital relayed the following story: Maariv is over, and a steady line of people stream out of the shul. They wish each other a good Shabbos and they part outside the brightly-lit shul building, heading out under the star-studded sky for home. Dovid waves to his friend and

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Hatzneiah Leches

Shaul was blessed with a lively brood of sons, and he toiled to raise them as true servants of Hashem. A tremendous yarei shamayim and a great mechanech, he worked to instill in his sons love and respect for Torah; and a desire for mitzvos and chesed. He explained the

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Poisonous Words

The great Chozeh of Lublin had a close talmid known as the Yid Hakadosh. Since he had the same first name as his rebbi, the Chozeh, his friends referred to him simply as ‘the Yid’. Later, when he became a great and holy rebbe in his own right, the moniker

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Passing The Test

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

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Ezra’s Sefer Torah

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

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The Rebbe’s Bracha

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

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The Chofetz Chaim’s Self Conversation

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

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Lost and Found

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

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Rebbe Reb Elimelech-Busha

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

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