Stories to wake you up: wisdom tales and Jewish stories with Yaakov Nadler

A flutist who gives up his flute to becomes a price…if only he can go back to being himself!

In this episode, I share a powerful interpretation of the story of Rabbi Eliezer Ben Durdaya from Living Time: Rabbi Shagar’s profound approach to the Jewish holidays. Rabbi Shagar blends Hasidic and philosophical ideas, creating sermons that dive into each holiday’s texts, mitzvot, and custom. I start with a joke. I heard a long time ago about an Israeli whocaptured by a tribe of cannibals. The chief tells him, “We’re going to eat you, but as a gesture of kindness, we’ll grant you one final request.”The Israeli thinks for a moment and says, “Okay, I want you to punch me—hard, right in the face.”The chief is confused but agrees. He winds up and delivers a powerful punch to the Israeli’s face.Immediately, the Israeli reaches into his pocket, pulls out a gun, and shoots all the cannibals. The chief, lying on the ground, barely alive, gasps, “If you had a gun all along, why didn’t you shoot us earlier?”The Israeli replies, “Well, I didn’t want to be condemned by the UN as being an aggressor.

We may argue and forget about what’s really important. I read this story that in Dr. Jorge Bucayמי אתה?https://www.keter-books.co.il/%D7%9E%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%94

A sweet story about Rabbi Yanai who invites a guest thinking that he is a great scholar. Turns out he has a lot more to teach him than Torah. “Derech Eretz Kadmah Letorah!” Story is from Medrsh Rabbah ויק"ר ט, ג

I heard this story from Rav Eyal Vered of Yeshivat Mechon Meir in Jerusalem. I remembered it as Purim Grenada. I recently learned more about the tradition: https://he.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/פורים_סרגוסה

A boy buys a watermelon thinking it’s a donkey egg. He is excited that he is saving a trip to the marketplace only to learn that donkeys don’t lay eggs.

3 short tales about lottery winners. The first tells about an evil man who swaps his ticket with a holy man. He thinks that the holy man’s numbers will win. His ticket wins but it’s too late for the evil man he already swapped his ticket.

A fable I usually tell at the Yom Hashoa “being an up-stander” round robin. A King is not concerned about the welfare of his subjects because it doesn’t affect him. He lives in great riches in his palace, and the suffering is not his problem in the end. It leads to his palace, burning down and the king is left with nothing but ashes.

This Breslev legend helps give context to the Seudat Habal Shem Tov: the Moshiach Seudah celebrate son the last day of Pesach.

Embark on a mesmerizing podcast journey delving into the enchanting tales of Rabbi Nachman, including the intriguing narratives of a prince convinced he is a turkey, a king compelled to embrace the madness of his kingdom, and a man trapped in an infinite loop due to his fixation on his “fantom” horse being sucked up by a tiny pump. Through these captivating stories, Rabbi Nachman illuminates the complexities of dealing with a distorted reality, offering profound insights on maintaining sanity, finding truth amidst chaos, and breaking free from illusions that bind us. Join us as we unravel the timeless wisdom of Rabbi Nachman and unravel the mysteries of navigating a world where reality often seems askew.

This story tells the tale of a Jew who, in need of money for Pesach, joins in the search for the king's lost ring. Through his efforts, he earns enough to provide for his family and host a generous seder for many guests. However, a wicked anti-Semite advisor named Mr. Dayenu tries to deceive the king by falsely accusing the Jew of neglecting the search. The clever twist comes during the seder when the advisor's name is repeated by the guests, when they sing “Dayenu”leading to his own downfall. Ultimately, the king's trust in his Jewish subject is restored, and justice prevails with the advisor, Dayenu, being exposed as the true thief. The story highlights themes of honesty, generosity, and the importance of looking beyond appearances to uncover the truth.

In the story from Jewish folklore, a poor Jew who worked for a landlord, the poritz, was going to be banished from his property. The poor innkeeper expressed faith in G-d. The poritz had a treasury filled with gold coins, which he would polish and spit on. His pet monkey, observing this behavior, mistakenly thought the poritz was eating the coins and followed suit. The monkey ate so many coins that it died. Upon discovering the dead monkey in the treasury, the poritz, still angry at the Jew, had the monkey thrown into the Jew's house. To everyone's surprise, the monkey's stomach burst open upon impact, revealing the gold coins it had consumed. The Jew was then able to purchase an abundance of provisions for Pesach. When the poritz sent his servant to check on the Jew, expecting to find him suffering without food, the servant reported back that the Jew's house was full of food and drink. Realizing the providence of God.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov tells the tale, Maaseh Mimaror, of a non Jewish better who ends up at a Pesach Seder expecting a great feast. He waits and waits for hours as they so slowly move through the steps of the Seder. When they reach Marror, he consumes a tremendous amount and runs away. Life can be bitter but it is a prelude to the sweetness which is soon to follow (Shulchan Orach).

A story I heard from Rabbi Yaakov Varshavsky of Lev Lomed Ahava. It’s fantastical and wild. In the end it all turns upside down. https://levlomedahava.com

Rabbi Zalman Notik OBM from Yeshivas Toras Emes shared with me this powerful tale that delves into the teachings of the Alter Rebbe in Lekutei Torah. Discover the profound wisdom behind the Arizal's understanding of the concept: "תחת אשר לא עבדת את ה׳ בשמחה" - why is joy essential in serving God and how it impacts our relationship with Him. Through this story, learn about the significance of embracing joy in our spiritual journey and how it can lead to God reciprocating with joy, overlooking our imperfections and negative aspects. Tune in to explore the transformative power of joy in our connection with the Divine. This story deeply resonated with me and I must’ve shared it after hearing it from Reb Zalman hundreds of times.

Here are 3 stories I have used multiple times to open up a sermon. 1. To placate the fear that I am going to talk for too long I tell the story of the Congregant in the Safari with his Rabbi. 2. The old Jewish woman who thinks her million dollar parrot made a good chicken soup. 3. Don’t give up gold for junk.

Abraham ibn Ezra was a renowned medieval Spanish Jewish scholar, poet, philosopher, and biblical commentator. Born in Toledo, Spain, around 1089, he made significant contributions to various fields, including linguistics, astronomy, and mathematics. Ibn Ezra authored numerous works, including commentaries on the Bible, astrology texts, and grammatical treatises. His writings combined rational analysis with religious devotion, and his commentary on the Torah remains highly regarded for its insightful interpretations. Ibn Ezra's legacy continues to influence Jewish thought and scholarship to this day. He passed away around 1167. I was inspired by the podcasts:קדמא https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Xgn9VZh5eRkhwwZj33S1y?si=Le-4sIgmRcaqfrlAEMI4yA

As we enter the month of Adar…This is what Chat GPT wrote for me: “Introducing "Laugh Out Loud", a hilarious podcast collection of jokes that will leave you in stitches! Join us as we bring you a wide range of witty one-liners, clever puns, and side-splitting stories from some of the funniest comedians around the world. Get ready to laugh till your cheeks hurt as we serve up a dose of pure comedy gold. Whether you're in need of a pick-me-up or simply want to brighten your day, "Laugh Out Loud" is the perfect podcast to bring a smile to your face. Tune in and get ready to LOL!”

An actor finds himself unwittingly part of a bet about which is stronger, a tiger or a lion. Initially frightened by the prospect of facing a real lion, the actor playing the tiger discovers that the supposed lion is also just another human actor. This story reflects imposter syndrome as the actor, tasked with portraying a tiger, experiences feelings of inadequacy and fear when confronted with the supposed challenge of facing a real lion. His initial terror mirrors the self-doubt and fear of exposure common in individuals with imposter syndrome, who often perceive others as more competent. However, upon realizing that the lion is also portrayed by another human actor, the illusion of superiority shatters, highlighting the artificial nature of their roles and challenging the actor's negative self-perceptions. As he navigates his role and confronts his fears, he gradually overcomes his feelings of inadequacy, echoing the journey of individuals with imposter syndrome as they challenge their negative self-perceptions and embrace authenticity, ultimately recognizing their own worth and competence.

The first story is of a man who wants to give away the question which was driving him for an easy and quick answer. The 2nd story is of the Chiduahei Harim (the first Rebbe of Ger). He left his Rebbe to join Kotzk because his Rebbe would give him a kiss and tell him how wonderful he was when he asked a question. He wanted a Rebbe who would “smack” him: motivate him to work harder. He found this in Kotzk.

I read the story in a collection by the master Jewish storyteller Peninnah Schram. My kids found the story so silly that I had to retell in to them at least 1,000 times.

A man feels worthless and his master sends him out to find out the worth of a ring. It’s worthless to the common street people but the expert can see its true worth. Based on a Jewish story told by Jorge Bucay

A story about a patient diligent farmer who impresses Cesar and he is rewarded. A copycat tries to find a shortcut and has to face the consequences. Based on Leviticus Rabbah 25: 5

"Zlateh the Goat" is a heartwarming short story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. It revolves around a poor Jewish boy named Aaron and his beloved goat, Zlateh. When a snowstorm traps them in a haystack overnight, Aaron faces a difficult decision that ultimately strengthens the bond between him and Zlateh, highlighting themes of compassion and resilience. Finished with a story of Rabbi Meir of Permishlan: “if you are connected above you don’t fall down below”.

Silly

A well known “Jack”tale about a foolish boy who listens to his mother but misses the context. He is so foolish that eventually he earns a sack of gold for taking a sad princess out of her spell of sadness.

A compilation of 3 tales about the importance of real life experiences. followed by a teaching in Pirkei Avot which encourages one to continue the learning outside of the halls of study.

My 1st grade Rebbe was a talented musician, artist and most importantly, a story teller. 1986 was a long time ago but I still remember how I felt after hearing Rabbi Burston’s stories. Here is a link to his work: http://www.rabbiburston.com

A true story! Based on an article by Rabbi Pini Dunner in the Tablet magazine: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/amazing-yabloner-rebbe

A king is on a mission to answer his existential question…he doesn’t want to miss the moment when it arrives:“when is the most important time of my life?” He is disappointed that the master tells him to plant turnips. It ends up being the most important time…the now. A similar lesson to the dark story: “Finding Happiness: the wolf and the Stupid”. The credit goes to

3 Rabbis in the Talmud with 3 different encounters with magic. When Yanai uses “Magic” to get back at an innkeeper it backfires on him. Real or not the series of stories seems to tell us to keep away from magic and stick with what is real. Based on the commentary of Shmuel Faust Agadata: Stories of Talmudic Drama Devir 2011.

Elisa Davy Pearmain has an outstanding book: Doorways to the Soul: Fifty-two Wisdom Tales from around the World Doorways to the SoulWinner of the 1999 Storytelling World Honor Award for Anthologies. (3rd Printing). She recommend spending a week on each story. Here I am giving you 2 of them in one short episode!

A poor immigrant is rejected from a janitorial job because he Doesn’t know how to read and write. Instead of falling in despair, he decides to become an entrepreneur. When asked by a Banker offering him a million dollar loan: “I can’t even imagine what you would be if you knew how to read and write: “he responds that he would be a simple janitor.

3 tales about the prankster who was able to score a meal by outsmarting the more fortunate.

The yeshiva is going to close down they seek the miracle of a Wise Rebbe. He tells them that the Moshiach lives in their Yeshiva. They start being kind to each other and the Yeshiva is saved!

As the Yiddish saying goes: “Mit Moach night Mit Koach”. More brain less force gets the job done.

This tale I Hanukafied a classic folktale.

the teaching of R. Simcha Bunim Peshischa : הרופא לשבורי לב if our heart is healed by G-d, why would the end of the פסוק be relevant ומחבש לעצבותם our heart is healed, why would we need our bandages to be changed? He answers that G-d heals us by allowing us to recognize that אין דבר שלם כלב נשבר. The heart remains broken (and bandages are in order) but we become complete by our recognition that brokenness is what lets the light come in.

The “wise” people of Chelm are fooled again and again by believing the absurd sales pitch of a fraudster.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Futerfas known informally as Reb Mendel, was a famous Chabad Mashpia and Chossid. He spent many years in the Gulag where he collected stories to help him learn lessons in serving G-d. this story is about a “snow” bird who is saved by a fox who takes a dump on him. אז מען ליגט אין דרעק וואס זינגסטו! 3 important life lessons!

I spent many hours trying to understand the lesson of this deep story. A solider/fixer needs his fake wooden sword to be authentic (metal). He prays that his sword turn to wood and he saves himself. Rav Shagar sees in this story the Matrix: the fixer is Neo, the hacker.

A collection of 3 tales about heaven and hell…The angels came to G-d asking to start rebuilding Hell, G-d said that there is no need, we will use the current heaven as the new hell and create something entirely new as heaven. (BInyamin Shvili)

A tale by Rabbi Nachman about A Jew who falls for Kaptzan Pasha’s trick. The king decrees that he should deliver a letter to the executioner saying “throw this man in the fire” on the way to deliver the letter he is asked to do a Mitzvah and he asks Kaptzan Pasha to deliver the letter. The executioner kills Kaptzan Pasha and the Jew is saved and returns to solve the kings advisor.

A medrash: Eliezer serves justice to the wicked judge of Sedom.

Evil returns to the evil.

The mouse is told it’s only a mouse problem and his animal friends have no empathy for him. The importance of Unity as in the story of Ovadyah who saves 100 prophets.

A servant in an attic, sees what looks like a useless rope, he doesn’t realize the importance of the rope. We often need to see more than what’s in front of us.

A falcon losses his life stoping the dehydrating king from drinking water. The king then discovers that the falcon was trying to save the king from being poisoned! At times we only see what’s in our frame of vision. We don’t have Birds Eye view.

In a quest to live forever, The evil king was duped into taking his own life. Retold from Dr. Jorge Bucay’s book Mi Atah.

An old Jewish tale about a man who gave up on a pile of gold to keep Shabbat. He finds one coin after Shabbat which eventually saves a merchant captured by pirates. As Achad Haam famously said: “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”