Barak Hullman gets stopped on the street for selfies, but not because he’s a celebrity. It’s because his storytelling has turned the Baal Shem Tov and other Chassidic masters into celebrities for children and adults alike, and people around the world recognize his voice from the Chassidic Story Project podcast.
“I sit in my office and record these stories never knowing who’s listening until they stop me at the Kotel or the shuk where I shop every day, or a message pops up from halfway around the world,” Hullman said.
If you come to Mayanot Shul in Jerusalem on Shabbos morning, you might see fans waiting to hear Hullman tell a “live Chassidic story” after davening at the Shul Kiddush. Barak, who has been leading the davening at Mayanot for over 20 years, is sometimes known for his wild and joyous Friday night davening. But these days, he’s even more well known for the podcast.
What started as a request for a story at the Shabbos morning kiddush has turned into a viral podcast with audiences in dozens of countries and millions of streams.
“I get beautiful messages from people all around the world and all ages telling me how inspired and moved they are by the stories,” Hullman said.
Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, rabbi of the Mayanot Shul, reflected on the impact of the project: “The Rebbe teaches in Hayom Yom that a Chassidic story purifies the air. We witnessed that power at the Shul kiddush when Barak began sharing stories each week. Now, through his podcast, that purification is no longer limited to one room — it is spreading across the world.”
Hullman started the podcast after a job interviewer asked him, “What do you do better than anyone else in the world?”
His answer: “Tell Chassidic stories.”
“I didn’t get the job,” Hullman said. “But as soon as I left the interview, I called my wife to say I’m starting a podcast of Chassidic stories.” That was nine years ago.
“I learned how to tell stories from my rabbi, Reb Sholom Brodt z”l. He said the secret of telling a good story is to feel yourself as the characters in the story.
“When I tell a story, I imagine myself as a Chassid walking the muddy roads to the Baal Shem Tov or a water carrier in the shtetl. I try to give it over from my heart. I think that’s why people feel the stories so deeply,” Hullman said.
There are currently over 800 stories recorded in more than 350 episodes. New episodes drop weekly, with stories ranging from the great Chassidic masters to contemporary tzadikim. The project is supported by generous, regular listeners who look forward to each new episode.
To listen, go to hasidicstory.com or find the podcast on:
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/
3FPwjkTzkAb4jUlztZ771w -
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/
chasidicstories/videos
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.
I”ve been listening to his podcasts for years, he’s the best sory teller!