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Our master, the holy rabbi, told a tale of the Ba‘al Shem Tov (may his memory be for a blessing to the life of the world to come!). There was once a matter involving great danger to the human life of…
The Birth of the Ba‘al Shem Tov
One of the greatest phenomena, running like a thread throughout the spiritual history of the Jewish people, is mysticism, a remnant of ancient mythology, which could…
There is a matter well known and widely publicized among all those who have come through the gates of our city, Constantinople [Istanbul], may God preserve it. . . . [I]t occurred about two years…
I stayed a long time in Hanau because of the heavy burden laid upon me from teaching youth. Although this is a labor performed for the sake of Heaven, it is nonetheless the case that whoever pleases…
Besides these, there are students of outstanding ability in their Torah study seated constantly in his presence—they are swifter than eagles and mightier than lions, each…
According to the workings of the natural order there are three periods through which each primordial nation passes from the time it comes into being until it passes from the scene and perishes:
- The…
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In the year 5121 (1361 CE), Sultan Murad I conquered the great city of Adrianople—called Edirne by the Turks and Endirne by the Jews…
An Addendum to the History of R. Moses Isserles
Rabbinic literature assigns to customs (minhag) an extensive and highly prominent role. In fact, the talmudic sages always looked upon customs with…
A. Many great, wise, genius, and righteous men beseeched me to publish in a book that which I received from scribes and…
There are facts of such an overwhelming power that even the most stubborn opinion must yield to them. Such a fact is the origin of Judaism in the midst of rude surroundings, like a vigorous…