Stories from the Rabbis

This 1893 collection by Abram S. Isaacs gathers stories sourced from the Talmud and Midrash, Jewish rabbinic writings spanning roughly a thousand years. The introduction frames these tales as illustrating the humanity and wit of ancient rabbis despite their difficult historical circumstances.

The volume contains seventeen stories blending fantasy, legend, and moral instruction. "The Faust of the Talmud" recounts Solomon's quest for the Shamir, a miraculous worm capable of splitting rock without iron—required for Temple construction under divine law. Solomon summons genii who reveal only the demon-king Ashmodai possesses the secret. His captain Benaiah captures Ashmodai through intoxication with wine, then interrogates him. Other featured tales reference literary parallels: "The Rip Van Winkle of the Talmud," "The Munchausen of the Talmud," and "When Solomon was King." Additional stories explore themes of love, repentance, labor, prophecy, and wisdom, including tales of the prophet Elijah and rabbinical humor and aphorisms. Originally published in periodicals like Atlantic Monthly and Harper's Bazar, these stories emphasize virtues and oriental-influenced narrative traditions adapted to Jewish didactic purposes.