Short Stories

Fascinating True Stories About Good Children Like You

Something goes very wrong during Bentzy's haircut. What thank-you gift does he give his friends afterward? And can they even be called friends?

An inspiring anthology that strengthens emunah and bitachon

"Nachman." Someone tears through the fog of my dream, trying to break its spell. "It's Shabbos morning," the voice says. The dream moves further away, and the voice becomes clearer, closer. "And Simchas Torah. There's davening and aliyos."

I wanted to pull the covers back over my head. True, my dream was interrupted, but another would come. Sleep is so sweet, and waking up so cruel. But then, I remembered that yesterday, I'd promised myself that I'd get up, no matter what. Shabbos and Simchas Torah - I couldn't allow myself to sleep through it.

It's easy to make a commitment; it's harder to carry it out. Now, my eyelids were glued shut, and I wanted to forget my commitment and sleep a little more, but I knew full well that a little more would bring in its wake a little more and a little more...and I...

I didn't think further. I flung off my blanket, washed my hands and face, and woke up.

A few minutes later, my father, brothers, and I were on our way to shul. Our hometown of Netivot was quiet. It was a silent morning. We did not know what lay in store for Klal Yisrael. We still had no clue what kind of day October 7th would be...

102: The Gematria of Emunah

Rabbi Tzvi Nakar, is a contemporary maggid and author of Emunah Shleimah - Bar Mitzvah and Tefillin, Meant To Be, and 24/7. His powerful lessons on emunah and gripping tales of hashgachah pratis, all drawn from modern times, enthuse and inspire, drawing the reader's heart to yearn for a deeper connection to Hashem. Learn More

The judge who changed his mind on the last day of the trial

Shimmy found a wallet full of cash. Is he allowed to keep it? Reuven accidentally ruined his brother’s keyboard. Now what should he do? Eli fell asleep on the city bus. How will he get back home?

Whether it’s about moving to another state or saving a classmate’s life, overcoming fears or learning responsibility, each story in this captivating book will hit home. Read about kids who struggle to do what’s right even when it’s hard, and about the good feeling that comes with making the right choice.

Join the brave, caring, and fun-loving kids in Rachel Stein’s newest collection. You’ll be glad you did.

Level W / Grade 5-6 Learn More

Now THAT’S A Story ...

... About Ahavas Yisrael
He was a special needs teen. He missed Simchas Torah because of a mistake he made. Two days later, the shul did the hakafos for him all over agaln ... with flags, candies, and even a band!

.... About Shidduchim
She’d let her younger sister “skip” ahead, never dreaming the shidduch would move so quickly. Now she was having second thoughts. What could the mother of two daughters do to ease their pain?

... About Mesiras Nefesh and Miracles

How did an eleven-year-old boy – with only his infant brother as company -- survive a walk of one-thousand miles and eventually grow up to be a judge in Rav Nissan Karelitz’s beis din? In this new collection, Rabbi Yechiel Spero, the master storyteller, touches our hearts, brings a smile to our face and, sometimes, tears to our eyes. Most of all, he reminds us of the greatness – sometimes hidden but always there – in every Jew, including ourselves.

As his tens of thousands of devoted readers have discovered, a “Spero Story” is one that satisfies, engages and inspires us to say, when we’ve turned the final page, “Now, THAT’s a story!” Learn More

Nothing that happens in the Schneider household is normal!

What happens when...

...Lali decides that the pen of Buma the lamb is in the wrong place?
...Gila lets Buma loose on Shabbos morning?
...Buma tries to invite herself over for a seudah at the homes of several families in the area?
...All the Schneider kids head out on a dizzying chase to find their poor, lost lamb?

Come along and share in the latest adventures of the Schneiders' 21 children! Learn More

Meet a bitter man in an oncology ward, a stellar boy whose parents have spurned him, a father looking for his lost son. Read about the cleaning lady's unbearable life and a convert's shocking background. Their stories are our stories, as they pluck at the delicate strings of the soul and leave impressions that resonate for a lifetime.

A debut release from popular writer and journalist Shimon Breitkopf Learn More

Anyone who required assistance, whether it was requested or not (usually the latter) was blessed by Rabbi Kelemer taking them under his wing, making them feel honorable and important. The Rabbi had a very liberal nigh incomprehensible interpretation of assistance. With never a thought for his personal comfort or dignity, no obstacle could prevent his treasured and cherished uplifting intervention.

Because of his Torah scholarship recognized by the world’s most prominent roshei yeshivah, dynamic leadership, and extraordinary care for everyone, the Young Israel of West Hempstead where he was the Mara D’asra swelled to a membership of 750 families. Young and old, disaffected youth, ardent secularists and yeshivah graduates revered Rabbi Kelemer and lovingly heeded his counsel.

The stories in this precious volume (so many stories!) surpass whatever has been written about a communal leader before. Only the golden pen of the best-selling King of the Storytellers, Hanoch Teller, could so vibrantly and heartfeltly capture the novum in Jewish history of an adam gadol, the product of the finest yeshivos, leading a vibrant and expanding Modern Orthodox community. Learn More

Thumbs Up! takes you back 50 years to the roots of the ba’al teshuva movement, a magical era in the Old City of Jerusalem. Kalman Packouz from Oregon became one of Aish HaTorah’s original six students – and Rav Noah Weinberg’s loyal lifetime partner in the “Torah Revolution.”

Thumbs Up! is two books in one. (1) Insights and inspiration from Rav Noah’s most compelling teachings. (2) Fascinating stories of Kalman’s iconic projects including the world’s first Jewish computer dating service; Shabbat Shalom, the first viral newsletter in Jewish history; the first Aish HaTorah branch; the first Western Wall webcam. Thumbs Up! takes you to the front row of Kalman’s eclectic adventures – from the alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, to the boardwalk in Miami Beach; from a Hong Kong subway, to IDF patrols in Hebron, to aboard a nuclear submarine. During his lifetime, thousands of people – of all ages and affiliations – loved Kalman. With this book, you’ll fall in love with him, too. Learn More