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From earliest times, people have wondered about the paths of their lives. What brings happiness, contentment, sorrow, anger, hope, optimism, frustration, and a myriad of related feelings and emotions? More often than not, it is the experiences of one´s life which helps clarify these questions, and allows them to anticipate their reactions to new situations. In addition to one´s personal experiences, there are also stories of others´ experiences. Sometimes these tales are accurate, other times exaggerated. Regardless, it is the tale itself which often is responsible for delivering a message and a lesson to the listener. Rabbi Nachman once stated that "one way to wake people up is through stories". Incorporating the psychological gleanings presented in this work into one´s life, and living that life with greater joy, peace of mind, harmony, optimism, and self-confidence, certainly seems to be at least one way in which people can benefit by being "awakened".

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Steven J. Kaplan received his rabbinical ordination from Tifereth Yisrael Rabbinical Yeshiva in New York. He additionally is a trained Adlerian psychotherapist, and State classified Chaplain. He is currently the Director of the Jewish Healing and Wholeness Center in Broward County, Florida.

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