Pesach Burston

Once, during a private audience, the Rebbe quoted a passage from the Talmud that states, “Even the wicked are full of mitzvos like seeds in a pomegranate.” This Talmudic statement had bothered the man visiting the Rebbe for some time. He challenged the Re...

Meir’s rash had become unbearable. Over a month had passed, and the red, itchy blotches were becoming redder and itchier! Exasperated from the discomfort and worried that he may have a serious condition, he decided to make an appointment with the doctor. ...

One bitterly cold night, Reb Shmuel Munkes embarked on a journey to his Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. The wind pierced his bones, and he was relieved to see a wagon passing by. The wagon stopped, and the driver happily offered Reb Shmuel a ride. T...

After purchasing a ticket for a peaceful ocean cruise, the passenger hopped onto the boat to enjoy the ride. In the middle of the trip, he felt extremely thirsty. He resolved to casually drill a hole beneath his seat and drink from the water that would se...

One afternoon, a king was feeling weary and decided to take a short nap. He ordered his private servant to instruct the members of the palace to keep quiet in order to allow his Majesty to sleep. Obediently, the servant began walking around the palace, hu...

An impoverished widow once came to the courthouse of the great sage, Rabbi Yehoshua Kutner. Weeping bitterly, she begged the Sage to summon a man she claimed had wronged her. Rabbi Yehoshua ordered the accused individual to appear before the court, but ad...

A brutal Russian winter raged, and a chassid wished to teach his son the importance of immersion in the mikva. Father and son approached a frozen lake on the outskirts of the city. The chassid undressed his shivering son and broke a hole in the ice. “When...

It was Rosh Hashana eve, and hundreds of Jews stood in line to give letters of requests for blessings to the Rebbe. As the line progressed, a yeshiva student turned to a shliach near him asking about the blessing “may you be written and inscribed for a go...

The Chassidic town of Dokshitz held a weekly get-together for its residents. A samovar of pannes – a hot drink made with boiling water, vodka and sugar – was served to the participants. Reb Aryeh, the mashpia of Dokshitz, would teach a class in deep Chass...

With patience and wisdom, a teacher instructed his young student in the reading of the Torah. The teacher explained, “When you see two ‘yuds’ together in the text, do not read the word as it appears. This is G-d’s holy name. Rather, say ‘Hashem,’ meaning ...