A little more than two centuries ago, in the city of Dubno, there lived a brilliant scholar and a wonderful teller of tales. Rabbi Yaakov ben Ze'ev Kranz, the Dubno Maggid, was known far and wide for his extraordinary gift of creating meshalim, parables, that both delighted and inspired his enthralled audiences. In the meshalim of the Dubno Maggid, we meet dukes, doctors, and peasants; wicked men and pious scholars; fools and kings. But more important, we also meet ourselves. For these meshalim are like mirrors. Just as a mirror helps us see our own faces, a mashal can reflect what is happening in our hearts. In The Stories He Told, the Dubno Maggid poses a question on each weekly parashah and with it a mashal. Each story is a magnificent treasure chest, enchanting to behold and filled with great wealth. Come. Open the magical chest and enjoy the riches of The Stories He Told.
by Miriam Rosenzweig