Stories We Tell

Every year Moshe begs his father for an etrog, and every year, his father says they can’t afford it, until one special Sukkot when they scrimp and save and finally bring home an etrog. But what happens when Moshe can’t resist the pitom and Boris the Beet Borscht Baron from Belarus with very strong hands comes to bless the etrog? As Rabbi Steven Bob reminds us, “Whatever You Do, Don’t Bite Off the pitom”!

When a scholar boards a ship with a group of merchants, the merchants are confused. What does a scholar have to sell that could compete with their radiant perfume and beautiful scarves? When pirates storm the ship, they find out in this story retold by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. You can find a written version of this story, titled “The Sefer Torah,” in the book Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories by Laney Katz Becker.

It’s time for the princess to get married, and the king and queen want to make sure that she marries her best match. There are three brothers in the running, and in order to decide which one will marry the princess, the king and queen set up a contest: the brother who gives the princess the greatest gift will become her husband. The brothers travel far and wide, and the oldest finds a magic carpet, the middle brother finds a magic mirror, and the youngest finds a special apple. Which gift is best? Rabbi Matt Gewirtz retells the story, which is adapted from The Magic Pomegranate: A Jewish Folktale by Peninnah Schram.

If somebody left something important at your house, would you give it to anyone else? That’s the question Mrs. Gold asks her daughter to encourage her to learn a life-long lesson. Find out what was left, and why this question contains such a crucial message, in this story retold by Cantor Ellen Dreskin.

Sara is a great listener. She listens to everything, with her mind like a sponge soaking up as much teaching as possible—but sometimes she hears things a little differently than others. What happens when her classmates find out? Rabbi Josh Weinberg tells his original story.

What’s the difference between a story and gossip? Sometimes all it takes is a clever rabbi and an open window to find the answer. Join Ari Mosbacher as they share the tale of a man, a rumor and The Feather Pillow.

A treasured gift, wrapped in more than just love, is passed down through Yoesel's family, from generation to generation. Listen in as Michelle Shapiro Abraham tells the story of the gift and what happens when it's finally revealed.

How do you see beauty? Rabbi Leora Kaye tells the story of Adam and Joshua’s visit to the palace. While they each see something special and amazing in their individual experiences, it’s what they learn to see, through each other’s eyes, that’s truly beautiful

A woman, walking with her wife around Manhattan, hears a cricket. How could she have heard a cricket among all of the New York City noise? Cantor Rosalie Boxt, URJ Director of Worship tells the story. For a written version of this story, by Rabbi David E. Stern, read Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories edited by Laney Katz Becker.