The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-11-03
Select Story.

A JEWISH LEGENT.

among Jle most learned ana plOuS
Jews of the twelfth century, next to the
great Maimoun or Maimonides of Euro
pean fame, stands Raschi, or as he was
properly called, Schlomo ben Isaac. He
wrote commentary on Thora and on
several of the books Of the Prophets, and
also one on the Talmud. He was great
mathematician, and among his own people
was reverenced for his sanctity and asceti-
cism.
His parents lived in Toulon, but Raschi
was born in Troyes, and this is the reason
why his father Isaac and his mother left
Ioulon: Shortly before the birth Of the
child the good woman walked down a mar
row street. A cumbrous wagon was be-
ing drawn along it by four stout horses,
and the wagon filled the street, so as to
make it impossible to pass. Seeing this.
the woman turned to seek a side street,
but at that moment the car of young
nobieman drove up the lane toward her.
The tImid woman ran from side to side in
quest of corner into which she might
retreat from the danger of being crushed
by one of the vehicles.
Look at the Jewess !" exclaimed the
driver Of the nobleman's car chow fright
ened she is F.
Whip the horses and run her down, !"
said his master.
The two vehicles approached, and the
poor creature, finding no place of retreat,
with piteous cry shrank against the wall
at that moment the huge wheel of the
wagon rolled toward her almost grazing
the house wall. Then, suddenly, the wall
bowed inward and formed a little recess,
in which the Jewess stood secure.
Softer and more yielding are these
stones than your hearts, ye Christians y
she exclaimed.
Now when this miracle was known, it
was at once concluded that it was wrought
by magic, and Isaac, fearing lest it should
be the cause of their being both brought
to the stake fed precipitately to Troyes,
and there Raschi was born
When Raschi was an old man, and was
everywhere for his vast learning
and profound wisdom, md above AL for
his great holiness, the school wherein he
taught was crowded with pupils, and his
sayings were treasured as though they
We're precious like gold He tasted con-
only eating what was Just suffi-
cient to keep life in, and what he ate was
of poor quality, and was mingled with
ashes. Fe drank nothing save water, and
of that only little, once a day. He re-
mained whole nights in prayer, and when
not engaged IN teaching during the day, he
stood rapt in meditation.
As he stood at his window one evening,
two Jews passed, and they were speaking
of him.
One said to the other, "was there ever
in the days of the prophets a greater saint
than Is this Rabbi RaschiP'
To which the other replied, Surely for
him there must be prepared one of the
most exalted stations in Paradise" 4
Then the Rabbi fell to musing on the
place that was to be his in the kingdom of
God, and he wondered who would be his
in the Land of Light, and sit
at his side in Paradise. With his thoughts
fixed on this theme, he stood long at his
window gazing out over the vine-clad hills,
toward the horizon where the sun had set,
and where its rays shot upward, kindling
the finely attenuated vapor which hung in
the air, and making the blue of heaven
green as grass. Level bars of cloud burn
ed ike gold in furnace, and small, misty
fragments glowed scarlet, like fiery lilies
growing in field of sunlit grass between
strips of yellow crocuses.
As the old man stood with his eyes fix
ed on the west, and his mind revolving
thoughts suggested by the speakers, LIE
saw the western sky undergo a sudden
transformation; the golden clouds became
steps OF light IN pavement of amethyst,
and on these platforms were placed pairs
Of golden thrones with gorgeous robes of
ruby tissue cast over them, and in these
robes diamonds were set, and as the light
changed they twinkled ike sparks that
wanc er about the ashes of consumed pa
per. Upon each throne name was writ
ten with lightning briliancy. and the
Rabbi saw on two of the highest-two
that stood side by side on the same stage
.Raschl ben Isaac, of Regensburg, and
Abraham ben Gerson, of Barcelona. AS
soon as the old man had made out these
names the light faded, and he found that
the 81 ~ was dark, that only a faint am
Der glow remained above the horizon, and
that the stars were shining in the dark
vault. So he shut his window, and he
busted himself through the night in gath
erlng together few necessaries for Jour-
ney, for he was resolved ere break of day
day to start for Barcelona, and to make
the acquaintance of Abraham ben Gerson.
who was to be his companion in Paradise.
Alter tedious journey, Raschi arrived
IN barcelona, his feet sore with walking,
and his palm fretted with the staffhe held;
and his shoulder CALLED with the straps of
the little knapsack which held his clothes
and provisions. As he entered the town
he thought to himself, ri Will not mention
the holy man by name, but will see wheth-
er the Hebrews here know of his high
merit and future exaltation" Then, meet
ing a Jewish woed-eutter, he stopped him,
"Friend, who is the most pious of the
faithful IN this city2"
The wood-cutter replied, Rabbi Jona-
than"
"Who is the next greatest saint in the
city,?
Levi ben Nathan"
Have you other wise, Just and holy
men here?"
Certainly, there is Izmael Zadik, there
IS Jehoshua ben Amnon, Samuel the
Learned, Mordecai Cohen"
But stay" interrupted Raschi; "the
one mean, l suppose Gust be very old
man, with pale face, bowed knees, a long,
white beard, eyesred with tears from much
weeping for the transgressions of Israel;
a man ever engaged in prayer, who macer-
ates his body and trains his soul"
There is no such a man in Barcelona" !"
answered the wood-cutter. Farewell"
Stay" exclaimed the Rabbi, OBTAINING
HIM can you tell me aught of Abraham
ben Gerson ?"
Abraham ben Gerson2" echoed the
laborer; "he is no saint. He is a rich