Stories about the inhabitants of the village of Chelm.

Eight stories based on traditional Jewish themes from Eastern Europe include: Shrewd Todie & Lyzer the Miser; Tsirtsur & Peziza; Rabbi Leib & the Witch Cunegunde; The Elders of Chelm & Genendel's Key; Shlemiel, the Businessman; Utzel & His Daughter Poverty; Menaseh's Dream; When Shlemiel went to Warsaw.

Collection of forty-seven stories selected by the Nobel Prize winning author from among the writings he authored from 1957-1981.