Timeless Prayer Stories

“That is all fine and well,” replied Rabbi DovBer’s friend, “but there remains one slight problem: I need the merchandise . . .”

Their leader spotted a beautiful bird perched atop a tall tree. "Come," he said to his disciples, "I wish to capture this bird, so that we may delight in her song and gaze upon her wondrous hues"

His one hand held a wooden cane, the other somehow was suddenly on my shoulder. "Can you davven?" he whispered

In 1951 my father, Rabbi Moshe Greenberg, was twenty years old and a prisoner in a Soviet labor camp in Siberia. That Yom Kippur, he faithfully prayed all the day’s prayers. All, that is, except for Kol Nidrei.

"In Vilna one was taught how to study," recalled the Rebbe. "In Mezeritch one could learn how to pray..."

"Doesn't a living man need a sip of brandy once in a while?” said Reb Leib. But the Rushiner interrupted. “I'm sure you realize that he's just joking," said the chassidic master. "I'll tell you the secret of l'chayim..."

The prayer quorum the rebbe had assembled included ruffians, burglars and other types of people of ill repute...

As soon as the holy day was over, the man rode into Mezhibuzh, despondent and heartbroken. But the Baal Shem greeted him full of joy

"Is that such a terrible curse?" Rabbi Bunem pondered. "It means that the snake is never hungry. Dust is everywhere; his table is always full, no matter where he goes..."

“That is all fine and well,” replied Rabbi DovBer’s friend, “but there remains one slight problem: I need the merchandise . . .”

I heard the voice of my 3 year old daughter Chanah, may she live, calling to me: "Father, father, where are you…? Father, father, answer me…", repeating her call twice and three times.

At first, I was awed by his courage. But the next day I realized, to my horror, that this man was 'renting out' the siddur to people in exchange for bread...

Let us say that you wished to journey to the fair to purchase some rare merchandise. But on the way you met another merchant, who is offering the very same wares at a good price. Only a fool would say, 'But I must go to the fair

"Perhaps I can help you," said the Baal Shem Tov. On small slips of paper he wrote, in simple Yiddish, "morning prayers," "addition for Mondays and Thursdays," "for Shabbat," and inserted them in the innkeeper's siddur