Chapter Eighty-Six: Kugel and Cholent

In this chapter are brought two of Rabbi Yisroel's wondrous stories. And you the reader — do not let your spirit be alarmed when you see these things, to entertain doubts about them. For even though a verse does not depart from its plain meaning — these holy words are not to be understood literally at all…

This is a beautiful story. My mother — when she reached the age of forty — gave birth to twins: a son and a daughter. At forty it is hard to give birth. And she gave birth to twins. The son — that is I. And the daughter — that is my sister. Nu — do you need to eat? Blessed be Hashem there is something to eat! Whoever wants to eat — let him come to the Moroccan synagogue and eat kugel and cholent.

My sister — when she reached the age of forty — gave birth to twins: a son and a daughter. The son — that is I. And the daughter — that is my sister. The kugel and the cholent are so beautiful! And every Shabbos I and my sister make kugel and cholent. She makes the cholent and I make the kugel — this is a novelty! There is something to eat all week — kugel and cholent one eats all week. When they hear there is kugel and cholent — they come from all of Yerushalayim on Sunday to eat kugel and cholent. Whoever wants to eat kugel and cholent — come to me! There will be kugel and cholent all week.

The son and the daughter also gave birth to twins — a son and a daughter. All of Meah Shearim and the Hungarian buildings know of these twins. When Shabbos arrives — then there is again something to eat: kugel and cholent! Whoever wants kugel and cholent — let him go to the son and to the daughter — to the twins! Brother and sister have plenty of kugel and plenty of cholent. Blessed be Hashem there is something to eat all week — a great blessing.

My sister — if she gives birth again to a son and a daughter: then there will be plenty of kugel and cholent — there will be something to eat!

This is a complete story: my sister — when she reached the age of forty — gave birth to twins: a son and a daughter. The son — that is I. And the daughter — that is my sister. Blessed be Hashem there is something to eat all week: kugel and cholent…