Izzy Abrahmson's The Village Life Podcast

Winters in Chelm are cold. The Black Forest is especially dark, and the frigid air gets into the bones.Most years, the arrival of Chanukah is a welcome break, an excuse to rejoice and celebrate, and maybe overeat.This year… in one house… not so much…

THE SECRET TO GREAT BREAD IS FORGIVENESS…Reb Stein the Baker has always had trouble keeping apprentices. Yes, he works them hard, but he has a secret that's been eating at him for years.

Few people dare to travel in The Black Forest known as the Schvartzvald… except Doodle, the village orphan. One day, while wandering, Doodle meets a fearsome stranger… and, as often happens in the village, confusion reigns. This episode happens long after the events in THE COUNCIL OF WISE WOMEN and THE BROTHERS SCHLEMIEL

Winters in the village are cold and hard. Everyone welcomes the signs of spring…

Marriages are blessings. They can also produce anxiety and fear. In this episode, a young girl shares her pre-wedding jitters with her mother, and learns a long-hidden secret. 

What happens when the butcher develops a conscience? A thoughtful and eloquent story about respect, integrity and consequences. 

A Hanukkah program for the whole family. Stories song and conversation. It's free, donations accepted or buy a book. Book your tickets at https://izzyabe.com/tour

You may have heard a version of the story, "Rachel the Wise." It is a wonderful story, but widely considered a myth. Not at all. The original wise Rachel was Rachel Cohen, a young girl from The Village. In this story, she pits her wits against wise Rabbi Sarnoff from the neighboring village of Smyrna.

Reb Stein, the baker, is frustrated. He's never heard the phrase, "That's the way the cookie crumbles." 

We’re celebrating the release of the book Winter Blessings, on Sunday, October 17, 2021. Eleven stories and a novella of village life, it includes visits with Rabbi Kibbitz, Mrs. Chaipul, Reb Cantor, Doodle, Rachel Cohen and more. Izzy Abrahmson and I will be doing a reading and book signing at Stillwater Books in Pawtucket Rhode Island on Sunday, October 17 at 2 pm. Winter Blessings is a perfect gift for friends and family or for yourself. It will make a great present for Chanukah Christmas, Kwanza, Ramadan, Diwali, Solstice or the New Year. Find it at https://books2read.com/winter-blessings

Where did The Village get it's name? And what's with The Round Village Square? A bit of village history.

Every year, The Village has a succah contest. And every year, Reb Cantor, the merchant wins. This year, he's decided to make it a little more interesting by offering a prize…

After a long and lovely summer, no one enjoys the first day of school – including the teacher. In The Village, Rabbi Yohon Abrahms is the only teacher, and every year his students play pranks. This year, however, it's the Rabbi's turn to play a trick…

Even a place as nice as the village can grow old and stale. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is a time for thought and reflection.  In The Village, however, sometimes thought isn't enough. You need to act…

The Villagers are not known for their musical ability. In fact, they really can't hold a tune. So, when a music peddler makes a stop, the results are disquieting…