The Silence of Clay and Copper

Hello, and welcome to another episode of **“English Stories for Hebrew Speakers.”** My name is Sarah, and I’m happy to be your English teacher and storyteller today. Let’s sit together, relax, and listen to some warm, special stories about famous Chabad rabbis — great Hasidic leaders, called in Yiddish “Rebbes” — and their wise, sometimes funny, sometimes touching, sometimes magical stories.

We will learn English naturally, together. If you hear a difficult word, don’t worry — I will explain in simple English, and sometimes in Hebrew, בעברית. Remember, you are not alone. You are learning. You are doing great.

Are you ready? Let’s begin.

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**A SHABBAT MORNING IN LUBAVITCH**

It was Friday night. The stars were shining over the small town of Lubavitch. Do you know what “Lubavitch” is? In Hebrew, it’s לובביץ'. It’s the famous village where many Chabad Rebbes lived. On this Friday night, the house of the Rebbe Maharash — that’s the fourth Rebbe of Chabad — was full of important guests. Rabbis from many towns, men with long beards and deep voices, had come to spend Shabbat there. The table was set. The candles were burning low, making shadows on the walls. The Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Rivka, wanted to honor her guests — to show them respect and love. In English, “to honor” someone means לכבד מישהו. She asked the servant to bring hot water for everyone. So the servant brought a big copper container. What is “copper”? It’s a kind of red-brown metal. In Hebrew, זה נחושת. The servant placed the hot copper pot on the table, and the air filled with a gentle steam — the soft smell of clean, hot water.

The rabbis began to talk. One said, “Wait, is this water safe? The Talmud warns us not to drink *uncovered water* that was left out all night.” Another said, “But it’s Shabbat! A mitzvah protects. Surely, there is no danger now.” The voices grew louder, but nobody wanted to drink the water. Can you imagine the scene? Many rabbis, all in their big black coats, talking quietly but firmly, each wanting to be careful, each wanting to respect the law.

Then, suddenly, the Rebbe Maharash himself entered the room. He was a short man, with sharp eyes, and he carried something in his hands. It was a clay container — a simple, brown jug. Do you know the word “clay”? It’s like אדמה לַחה, חומר, something you make pots from. The Rebbe didn’t say a word. He only showed the jug. He was saying, with his action: The water you see is not from the copper pot. It was kept in *clay*, not metal. So there is no problem, no danger.

Sometimes, you don’t need many words. Sometimes, a silent action teaches more than a speech. Can you think of a time when a simple act explained everything? In Hebrew, we say: “מעשה מדבר יותר ממילים.” An action speaks louder than words.

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**A CONVERSATION ABOUT TZADDIK AND CHASSID**

Now let’s travel to another scene, a small study hall in the city of Homil. Rabbi Isaac — in Hebrew, רב יצחק — was talking to Rabbi Hillel of Paritch. Rabbi Isaac said: “Rabbi Hillel, you are certainly a tzaddik.” Do you know what a tzaddik is? In Hebrew צדיק — a very righteous, holy person. But Rabbi Hillel smiled and answered: “And you are a chassid, and a chassid is even higher than a tzaddik.”

Let’s pause. In Chabad, a chassid is not only someone who follows. Sometimes, a chassid is a person who serves Hashem, God, with love, with warmth, with joy — not only with fear or strict rules. Rabbi Hillel was saying: “Sometimes, a heart full of simple love and faith is even higher than strict perfection.” That’s a useful English expression: “Love can be higher than perfection.” In Hebrew: “אהבה יכולה להיות נעלה על שלמות.”

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**THE WAGON DRIVER’S HORSE**

Now, let’s travel to the city of Bobruisk. The streets are muddy. The air smells like woodsmoke and horses. A group of chassidim — Hasidic men — sat together, planning a festive gathering. They collected money, 25 rubles. Do you know what a “ruble” is? It’s the Russian coin — רובל. They wanted to buy drinks for their celebration.

Suddenly, a wagon driver came running. His hat was crooked. His hands were shaking. He said, “Rabbi Hillel! Please help me! My horse has died. Without my horse, I cannot work. I cannot bring food home.” Rabbi Hillel looked at him. He did not ask questions. He did not say, “Wait, we need the money for the party.” No — Rabbi Hillel immediately gave him all the money, every ruble. Do you know the word “immediately”? It means right away, בלי לחכות.

Later, the chassidim collected the same amount again — 25 rubles. But this time, another person came, also asking for help. This time, Rabbi Hillel did not give the money. Why do you think? Sometimes, a rabbi has to know when to give, and when not to. In English, we say: “There is a time to give and a time to wait.” In Hebrew: “יש זמן לתת, ויש זמן להמתין.”

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**A RACE AGAINST THE SHABBAT CLOCK**

Now, Rabbi Hillel decided to travel to Lubavitch for Shabbat. But it was already late on Friday — not much time left before Shabbat would begin. In Jewish law, you cannot travel after Shabbat starts. It seemed impossible.

Then, a young man — a scholar, a תלמיד חכם — came and offered: “I can drive you, but with two conditions.” What is a “condition”? In Hebrew, תנאי. First: “You cannot pray for too long on the way.” Second: “We must travel on the new roads, the ones built by Tsar Nicholas.” Usually, Rabbi Hillel did not use those roads. Maybe he wanted to avoid the soldiers, or the modern world. But now, he agreed.

Do you know what it means to compromise? In Hebrew: להתפשר. Sometimes, to reach a good goal, we must accept things we do not love.

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**A FISH WITH A SECRET**

Now, let’s move to a small village near Lubavitch. It is very early in the morning. The sky is gray-blue. The Alter Rebbe — the first Chabad Rebbe, אדמו"ר הזקן — is traveling with a few chassidim. They stop at the home of a poor Jewish man. They ask, “Do you have a room for us to pray in?” The man says, “I only have the room with the alcohol.” What is “alcohol”? In Hebrew, אלכוהול — drinks like wine or vodka. In Russia, it was the law: alcohol had to be stored in a special room.

The Alter Rebbe said, “That’s fine. And please, can you prepare fish for us?” The man answered, “There is no river nearby. I have no fish.” But while they were praying, a non-Jewish villager arrived, holding a big fish for sale.

Do you know the word “arrive”? It means to come, to get to a place — להגיע.

The Alter Rebbe watched as the fish was cleaned and cooked. Then, during the meal, he said something strange: “You knew a certain person… This fish contains the soul of that man, who has returned in a new form.” Do you know “reincarnated”? It means that a soul comes back to this world in a new body, גלגול נשמות.

Sometimes, stories teach in a mysterious way. Do you think everything happens by chance? Or does every meeting, every event, have a meaning?

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**A LETTER FOR THE MAHARIL**

Now, let’s meet Rabbi Peretz Chen of Chernigov. The local chassidim came to him with a request. They wanted him to write a letter to the Tzemach Tzedek — the third Chabad Rebbe — and ask him to send his son, the Maharil, to live in their city as a rabbi.

At first, Rabbi Peretz refused. He said, “It is not respectful. The Rebbe will decide himself.” But the chassidim pressured him again and again. Sometimes, people can be very *persistent*. What does “persistent” mean? It means they do not give up, לא מוותרים.

Finally, Rabbi Peretz agreed and wrote the letter. Later, he went to see the Tzemach Tzedek in a private audience. The Rebbe was not happy. He said, “Who are they to tell me which son to send?” Rabbi Peretz apologized many times, but he felt bad about it for a long time.

Do you know the word “apologize”? It means to say sorry, להתנצל. Sometimes, even when we say sorry, the feeling stays in our heart.

Much later, Rabbi Peretz joined a discussion about whether a chicken was kosher — if it could be eaten. He argued, “Practical experience can sometimes teach more than theory.” Theory — that means לימוד עיוני. The Rebbe accepted his answer. Rabbi Peretz felt that the old tension was finally gone. In English, we say: “They made peace.” In Hebrew: “השלום חזר ביניהם.”

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**WHO HAS DIVINE INSPIRATION?**

One day, Rabbi Isaac of Homil said: “The Alter Rebbe had divine inspiration that never left him. The Mitteler Rebbe had it whenever he wanted. But the Tzemach Tzedek has it whenever Heaven wants.”

Do you know “divine inspiration”? In Hebrew, רוח הקודש. It means a special feeling or knowledge that comes from God.

Rabbi Hillel answered, “I do not know how a person can know such things.” But Rabbi Isaac said, “I may not have divine inspiration… but I do understand people who do.”

Isn’t that interesting? Some people see the light. Some people see those who see the light.

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**THE SUKKAH AND THE RENT**

Rabbi Baruch Mordechai of Bobruisk was very poor. He could barely pay rent for his house. But before Sukkot, he asked his landlord to build him a sukkah. Do you know “sukkah”? In Hebrew, סוכה — a small hut for the Sukkot holiday.

The landlord said, “You want a sukkah? Pay me more money!” Rabbi Baruch Mordechai said, “I have no money.” The landlord answered angrily, “Then your sukkah is not valid! It is stolen property!” Rabbi Baruch Mordechai smiled and said, “If I do pay you, the sukkah is still not valid — because the Torah says you should live in the sukkah as you live at home. And my home is a place where I do not pay rent!”

Do you understand the joke? He turned his poverty into a reason for joy. In English, we say: “He made a problem into a solution.” In Hebrew: “הפך את הבעיה לפתרון.”

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**THE WOMAN WHO CURSED**

Another time, two women came to Rabbi Baruch Mordechai to judge their dispute. He heard their arguments and ruled in favor of one woman. The other woman became very angry. She started to curse him loudly — to say bad things about him. His wife wanted to throw her out. But Rabbi Baruch Mordechai said, “She doesn’t really mean the curses.”

The woman shouted even louder, more terrible words. Then Rabbi Baruch Mordechai turned to her and asked, “Would you want your sons to be like me?” Suddenly, the woman became quiet. She replied, “I wish my sons would become Torah scholars like you.” He looked at his wife and said, “You see? She does not really mean the curses.”

This is an example of understanding people. Sometimes, anger is only on the surface — בפנים הלב טוב. Inside, the heart is good.

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**ENDING**

So, dear listener, today we visited the homes and hearts of Chabad rabbis. We learned English together: * honor — לכבד * copper — נחושת * immediately — מיד * compromise — להתפשר * reincarnated — גלגול נשמות * apologize — להתנצל * persistent — עקשן, לא מוותר * tension — מתח * divine inspiration — רוח הקודש * to make peace — לעשות שלום

And many more words and expressions.

Did you enjoy the stories? Which one made you smile? Which one made you think?

Remember, you are learning English every time you listen. The stories of these rabbis are not only history, but a way to learn about kindness, wisdom, patience — and, of course, new words.

Thank you for joining me. We will meet again in the next episode. For now, I wish you a peaceful day, Shalom, שלום, And goodbye!