The Talmud teaches that, in significant ways, a student benefits more from serving and observing his teachers than from studying under them ... because there are priceless lessons to be learned from the way a great person acts, from the way he absorbs the teachings of the Torah and lets them change him from an ordinary human being into -- as the Chazon Ish puts it -- “an angel who walks among mortal men.”

This book is a treasure house of such stories: stories from the Talmud, stories from the Midrash, stories about great men throughout the centuries. These hundreds of stories are filled with the warmth and wisdom of the Torah translated into the lives of its people.

As an added, valuable benefit, the tales are divided according to the weekly Torah readings, so that every Sabbath table can be enriched by fascinating stories related to the sidra of the week. Readers and listeners alike will enjoy every inspiration-packed moment they spend with this wonderful book.

Since it was first published in Israel just a few years ago, Tales of Tzaddikim has been a runaway best-seller, going into several large printings. Clearly, the “people of the book” recognize a great book when they see one. Now, two publishing houses on both sides of the ocean -- Mesorah/Artscroll and Hamesorah -- join hands to present this gift of inspiration to English readers everywhere. We warn you, though: Don’t think you can read only the stories of that week’s sidra and then put the book down until next week. This is a book that -- happily -- you will turn to over and over again.