North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-05-26
RABBI IL ASCHI.
A JEWISH LEGEND.

Among the most learned and pious Jews
of the twelfth century, next to the great
Maimoun, or Maimonides, of European
fame, stands Raschi, or, as he was more
properly called, Schlomo ben Isaac. ii.
wrote commentary on Thora AID o.. sew
eral of the books of the Prophets, and also
one on the Talmud lie was great ma
themetician, and among his own people
was reverenced for his sanctity and asceti
cism.
His parents lived in Toulon, hut Rasch
was born in Troyes, and this is the reason
why his father Isaac and his mother left
Toulon. Shortly before the birth of the
child the good woman walked down mar
row street. A cumbrous wagon was b.lns
drawn along it by four stout horses, and
the wagon filled the street so as to maker,
impossible to pass. Seeing this, the wo.
man turned to seek side street, but Il,
that moment the car of a young noblemar
Grove up the lane towards her. The tImid
woman ran from side to side in quest of 4
corner into which she might retreat from
the two vehicles.
''Look at the Jewess,'' exclaimed the
driver of the nobleman's car "how fri isht
ened she is.
"Whip the horses, and run her down.
!. said the master.
The two vehicles approached, and the
poor creature, finding no place of retreat
with a piteous cry sank against the wall
At that moment the huge wheel of ths
wagon rolled towards her almost grazing
the house wall. Then, suddenly, the wal
bowed inwards and f rmed little recess
in which the Jewess stood secure.
'Softer and more yielding are these
stones than your hearts, ye Christians !!
she exclaimed.
Now when this miracle was known, il
was at once concluded that it was wroush
by ma aAic, and Isaac, fearing lest it should
be the cause Of their both being brought
to>the stake, fled preciptately to Troyes
and there Raschi was born.
a When Raschi was an old man, and was
renowned everywhere for his vast learning
and profound wisdom, and above ali fol
his great holiness. the school wherein he
taught was crowded with pupils, and his
sayings were treasured as tho .gh they
were precious like gold. lie tasted con-
tnuousy, only eating what was just suli'
cient to keep life in. and what he ate wa.
Of poor quality, and was mingled with
Ashes. lie drank nothing save water, and
of that only little, once a day. He re
mained whole nights in prayer, and wher
not engaged in teaching during the day
he stood wrapt in meditation.
As he stood at his window one evening
tw, Jews passed, and they were speaking
of him.
One said to the other, "Was there evel
in the days of the prophets greater sain
than is this Rabbi Raschi?''
To which the other replied, "Surely fol
him there must be prepared one of th'
most exalted statiens in Paradise
Then the Rabbi fell to musns on tn,
place that was to he his in the gdon
of God, and he wondered who would b,
his compan on in the Land of Light, an(
sit at his side in PARADISE. With hi
thoughts fixed on this theme, he stood lon,
at his window gazing out over the v,ne
clad hills, towards the horizon where tn
sun had set. and where its rays shot up
wards, kindling the finely attenuated va
por which hung in the air, and making
the blue of heaven green as grass. Leve
bars Of cloud, burned like gold in furnace
and small misty fragments slowed scarlet
like fiery lilies growing in a field of sunli
grass between strips OF yellow crocuses.
! As the old man stood with his eyes tixe
, on the west, and his mind revolving tn
thoughts suggested by the speakers, h
saw the western sky undergo sudde
Transformation the golden clouds becan'
steps of light in pavement of amythis
and on these platforms were placed pain
of golden thrones with gorgeous robes ,
ruby cast over them, and in these robe
diamonds were set, and as the light chan.
el they twinkled like sparks that wande
about the ashes of consumed paper. Upo
each throne name was written wit
lightning brillancy. And the Rabbi sa'
on two of the hiyhest-two that sio d sid
by side on the same stage-Raschi he
isaac, oi Regensburg. and Abraham be
Gerson, of Barcelona. As soon AS the ol
man had made out these names, the ligl
faded, and he found that the sky was darI
that only faint amber glow RENAME
above the horizon, and that the stars wei
shining in the dark blue vault. So /
shut his window, and he busted himse
through the night in gathering together
few necessaries for a journey, he was re
solvedsere break Of day, to start for Ba
celona, and to make the acquaintance
Abraham ben Gerson, who was to be h
companion in Paradise.
After II tedious journey, Raschi arrive
in Barcelona, his feet sore with walkin!
and his palm fretted with the staff he hel,
and his shoulders CALLED with the straps
the little knapsack which held his cloth'
and provisions. As he entered the tow
he thought to himself, ~ will not mentio
the holy man by name, but will see VIII
ther the Hebrews here know of his hia
merit and future exaltation." Then, NEE
ing Jewish woodcatter, he stopped hin