Stories from the Talmud

From the Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 74b::

Rav Yehuda, the Ethiopian related:  Once we were traveling by a ship, and in the water we saw a precious stone that was being circled by a sea serpent.  A diver descended to bring it.  The sea serpent approached, wanting to swallow the ship.  A Pushkantza (female raven)bird came and chopped off its head.

The water turned blood red.  Another sea serpent came, took the precious stone and hung it on the dead sea serpent and returned it to life.  It again came wanting to swallow the ship.  Again the Pushkantza bird came and chopped off its head.  The diver then took the precious stone and threw it into the ship.  We had with us salted birds for eathing.  When the diver put the stone on top of them, the birds returned to life, took the stone and flew off with it.

(this is a more mystical story)

Stories from the Talmud

There was a Torah scholar who let lust get the better of him. He went to a brothel and wanted to be with not just anyone, but the "famous one" who had 7 beds stacked one on top of the other. 6 made of silver and the top one made of gold. Her rule was that anyone who approaches her must remove a layer of clothing each bed he mounts while she waited for him on the top golden bed. So, this Torah scholar debased himself and climbed as fast as he could, duly discarding an item of clothing as it climbed. However, when he got to the last bed, the last item to remove was his tzitzit. In his haste to remove that item, the tzitzit whipped him across the face!!! It gave him pause. He began to think what was the purpose of the tzitzit --one of its purpose was to protect one against immorality (like a shield around the groin). Then slowly, filled with guilt, the Torah Scholar backed away and climbed down, putting his clothes back on and finally, he left.


The woman was thoroughly impressed. What could be stronger than the pull of lust?! She began to take steps asking around about these fringes. No one knew what she was talking about. She finally reached a person who knew. "these are things the Jews wear. Go ask them about it." he said. She went to a rabbi and asked about tzitzit. The rabbi wanted to know why she was curious about it. She told him the whole story including the part about the Torah scholar.


So the rabbi began to teach the lady. Slowly slowly the lady learn and eventually she became Jewish. 


In conclusion, the rabbi did matchmaking and found the Torah scholar and told him he has a possible match for him. Then the lady entered. Jewish, holy, waiting for him for a holy union. He accepted. So he got the beds of silver, gold and the woman he wanted. the end.

Stories from the Talmud

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If you recall we did the story of Alexander the Great who went to an African village run by women to conquer it. He only ended up having his rear end handed back to him! (lol! okay, not so dramatic as that). You can read that story Here.

This is also about Alexander the Great from the Babylonian Talmud (Mas. Tamid 32b), he hadn't left Africa yet. Story embellished by moi!!!


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Afterwards Alexander the Great continued on his way, but before he left the continent, he stayed and rested near a river. Suddenly he got a great whiff --a fragrant and wonderful smell-Gan Eden!!! The Garden of Eden!!!

"Whoa!!" he exclaimed, "what is this?"

"you have reached the gates of Gan Eden." Said the gate keeper. "But you may not enter."

"Let me in!! I want to see! or at least give me something from there."

The gatekeeper gave the greek fighter an eye ball.  Alexander took it, but it was heavy. He weighed it on the scale and it was heavier than the gold he got from the villages of women. Then at the gatekeepers suggestion, he put a rag on top of the eyeball and covered it,  and suddenly the gold tipped the scale.  The gold was now heavier!!

"What is this?!" he demanded.

The gatekeeper explained, "when you look and desire, you will never be satiated.  Even gold is not enough. But when you shut your roaming eyes and stop desiring more and more, then you will have gold!)

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(For more another story check here: Africa and Alexander Talmud Story)

Stories from the Talmud

This is from Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Shabbat, Chapter  6; halacha 9 (embellished by yours truly!):

There was once an astrologer who looked up in the sky. He measured this angle and that angle and promptly declared to his friends, "See these two Jewish men walking by? They will not return!"

So everyone watched to see how will their imminent death occur.  The two men were walking down a road.  Suddenly, and old man appeared. He was in tattered clothing and begged to them, "Please do you have anything to eat? I haven't eaten in three days!!"  Out of mercy for the begging old lman, the two decided to give him of their fig cake in the bag. The took a knife and sliced the whole bag in half and gave one half to the old man. When they were done with their business, they returned to their original location. When they opened their bag later, to everyone's surprise, they found half a snake in the fig cake bag!

The friends of the astrologer shouted, "hey! they returned!! You said they would not return!!"

"Well," snorted the astrologer, "their G-d is appeased by half a fig cake!"

Stories from the Talmud

Sometimes I enjoy learning stories from Jewish sources. Here is one of my favorite ones. (details are adapted my me!)

Alexander the Great was famous for his military might. When countries heard he was approaching, they would all but tremble with fright!

One day, Alexander the Great had set out to conquer a small village in Africa run by women. Word got out. The Nubian leaders gathered their skirt in their hand, and with their head scarves flaying in the wind, bolted towards the queen. A quick meeting needed to be done!

In quick hushed voice they spoke in their native African tongue. What should they do? How can they ever defeat the Great Alexander. Slowly slowly a plan was devised.

The day came. Alexander the Great and all his military might approached.

They came and towered over the entrance of the village. Lo and behold! Without weapons, the women came out. One by one, led by the queen in all her regality. It was a quiet but noble and beautiful procession. Drums played suspensfully in the background and no one spoke a word, save the the excited wind blowing around them.

Finally, the queen spoke.

"I salute you, the great and mighty Alexander. You are well known for your fierceness in battle and for your great victories."

Everyone listened intently.

"We women have protected and defended our village alone. And we have been successful! Now, if you should come and attack us and win, what would it be said? The great Warrior fought with women and won?! What kind of victory would that be?"

The Queen paused to let the idea sink in.  Then she continued, "Now supposing WE WON? What would be said then?"

With a faint smile, Alexander the Great, conceded, "You are wise. I will not conquer your land. Now fetch some bread for me and my men and we will be off!"

The queen bowed graciously and returned with her whole procession back into their village. As soon as they were out of sight, again they hurried and huddled to think and talk.

He needs bread? they wondered. Surely, there is a trick to this! So they, again, devised another plan.

After a few minutes, once again the whole solemn procession came out bearing bread. By then everyone had dismounted from their horses and waited for the bread. The women passed bread to everyone. However, when they bit into the bread, they realized it was hard! Each bread had inside of it gold!

"What is this!" Cried Alexander.

"Great and mighty Alexander" The queen began, unperturbed, "would you really be satisfied to come all the way over here... for a morsel of bread?"

With this, Alexander nodded and left. But before he left, he wrote on the gate of their city: "I, Alexander of Macedon, was a fool before having come to this country of women in Africa and having received their advice."

(for another story check Another Africa and Alexander Talmud story)