The Father of the Rothschilds

This week we read a story about Maier Anschel Rothschild - the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty.



This story is taken from volume 4 of The Storyteller by Nissan Mindel

Goldie's Stories - A Little Light Dispells a World of Darkness

This week we read the story that is in the epilogue of the book Truths Revealed: Modern Stories of Miracles & Faith which is written by a friend of mine. It is a story about darkness and light.



This story is from the epilogue of the book Truths revealed: Modern day stories of faith & miracles by Tzvi Jacobs

Goldie's Stories - Episode 23

In today's story we complete the stories from Legends of Judah the Macabee with the story of the Miracle of Chanukah.

If you haven't caught the whole series here are the links to the series in order.

The Rise of Antiochus Epiphanes
The Hellenizers
Antiochus Takes Action
The Death of Eleazar the Priest
Hannah and Her 7 Sons
Rebellion in Modiin
The Death of Matisyahu
Judah the Maccabee Goes to War

And today - The Miracle of Chanukah



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 22

Today's story is a continuation of the book, Legends of Judah the Macabee, Today we read chapter 8 - Judah the Macabee goes to war.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 21

Today we continue the daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi. Today's story is about the passing of Matisyahu.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 20

Today's story, the continuation of the history and story of a Chanukah - Rebellion begins in the mountain town of Modiin.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 19

Today's chapter is the story of Hannah and her Seven Sons. This is an incredibly sad story associated with Chanukah. (In fact, I could not keep entirely from crying at the end.) With that in mind I have also included a happier Chanukah story that I recorded last year of Herschel and the Hannukah Goblins.

Hannah and her Seven Sons:



The previous story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins:



The previous (and second) story comes from Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Goldie's Stories - Episode 18

Today we continue the daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi, which tells the history leading up to Chanukah, as well as the story of the Miracle of Chanukah. Today's story is about the Antiochus's challenge to Eleazar the Priest.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 17

Today we continue the daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi, which tells the history leading up to Chanukah, as well as the story of the Miracle of Chanukah. Today's story is about the Antiochus's first actions to attempt to crush out Judaism.




This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 16

Today we continue the daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi, which tells the history leading up to Chanukah, as well as the story of the Miracle of Chanukah. Today's story is about the Hellenizers.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 15

This week we have something a little different. In honor of Chanukah we will be reading a daily story from an adaptation of Aggadot Yehuda Ha Makkabi, which tells the history leading up to Chanukah, as well as the story of the Miracle of Chanukah. Today's story is about the rise of Antiochus Epiphanes.



This story comes from Legends of Judah The Maccabee
by S. Skulsky

Goldie's Stories - Episode 14

During the time of the Alter Rebbe, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, there were many who opposed the teaching of Chassidus, that is, Jewish Mysticism. Some of these opponents trumped up charges that resulted in the Alter Rebbe's arrest. This week we hear some stories from the first imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe.



This story comes from the book The Arrest and Liberation of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: The History of Yud-Teth Kislev

Goldie's Stories - Episode 13

This week we hear the story of a student of the Baal Shem Tov and the directive that the student was given to follow after the Baal Shem Tov's death.



This story comes from Volume 3 of Extraordinary Chassidic Tales, an unfortunately out of print series of books.

Goldie's Stories - Episode 12

This week is Thanksgiving in the USA. So this week we have a story of Herschel of Osteropol and a goose dinner...or foot to be specific. Story is based on the book The Adventures of Herschel of Ostropol retold by Eric A Kimmel.

Goldie's Stories - Episode 10

This week we read a story about Herschel of Osteropol a common character in the folklore of Eastern European Jews. His stories always have a bit of wit and cleverness. This telling of the story is based on the one found in the book The Adventures of Herschel of Ostropol retold by Eric A Kimmel

Goldie's Stories - Episode 9

This week's story is a modern day story that takes place in Tel Aviv and is taken from Tuvia Bolton's Torah Online weekly mailing.
http://www.ohrtmimim.org/Torah_default.asp




(Reference for the video: tefillin)

Goldie's Stories - Episode 7

This week we read a story about the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the work he did with the Cantonists and in helping others avoid that fate.

For those who don't already know about the Cantonists there's a bit of an introduction to that period of history at the beginning of the episode.



This story is taken from the book The Third Judge.

Goldie's Stories - Episode 6

This week we read a story about Reb Shmuel Munkis and the Kabbalistic question he gives to his fellow traveler.




This story comes from the Early Chassidic Personalities series book on Reb Shmuel Munkis, by Rabbi Sholom D. Avtzon

Goldie's Stories - Episode 4

This week we are reading a story about the Rebbe Maharash, the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe. Although he was known as the Baal Shemske Rebbe because so many miracles occurred when he was Rebbe this story shows the power of belief to cause a transformation.



For those who are interested in more from the behind the scenes I usually read through some of the dozens of story books that I have in our house (many of them collections of stories) to find ones that seem right for the time (season/calendar wise) and length. One story I had considered I realized was too long, and I didn't feel up to rewriting the story. I decided that the bagel story would be a good one, but I couldn't find the book I had read it from. So, while I am reading the story, what I am reading is my writing of the story as I remember it.

Goldie's Stories - Episode 3

This week's story is a story about Rabbi Akiva and his wife Rachel. When Rachel met Rabbi Akiva, then a shepherd in her father's employ, he was illiterate. But she saw wisdom in him and agreed to marry him if he would go to learn Torah...which of course first meant learning to read. The long story short - he became a great sage and his teachings are still taught and studied today. But this story, based on Midrash HaGadol, takes place earlier in the story.

This story can be found in the book No Greater Treasure: Stories of Extraordinary Women Drawn from the Talmud and Midrash.