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The king, who is ready to retire, is holding a contest to find his successor. He gives seeds to all of the young people in the kingdom, and tells them whoever can grow the finest tree, plant, or crop will become king. A young boy with a green thumb knows that he has a real shot at winning, but no matter what he does, he can’t seem to make these plants grow. Can he make it work in time? Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz retells the story.

When the king’s daughter gets engaged, he plans an elaborate and exquisite wedding for her. Most importantly, the king tells his oldest son that he’ll cover any expenses as long as the son shows up in the most amazing carriage, wearing the most elegant clothing and jewelry, and with his younger brother in tow, all in honor of the bride. Does the older son earn this gift from the king, or does he fall short? Rabbi Marc Katz retells the story.

Years ago, the Chiribim and Chiribam families were enemies--but, the feud had been going on for so long that nobody could even remember how it began! Eventually, the rabbi decided that he would bring the families together and urge them to make peace. He asked both families to meet him in the forest, but after forgetting his glasses, the plan became difficult to carry through. Was the rabbi able to bring the families together? Cantor Rosalie Boxt retells the story. You can find a written version of the story in Stories for Peace by Mark Binder.

Times were difficult for the Jewish people in Prague —the soldiers fighting against them were too strong, and the Jewish people didn’t have the tools to protect themselves. Rabbi Loew knew he had to do something, so late one night, he created the Golem. Could the Golem protect the Jewish people? Rabbi Mark Kaiserman retells the classic story. For a written version of this story, see The Golem of Prague in “The Classic Tales: 4,000 Years of Jewish Lore.”