Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-08-30
stories OF Dr. Falk.


the Kabbala, and the character Of the
Thaumaturgos is by no means new
in Jewish history. A gentleman prop
erly invested with those miraculous
gifts made his appearance in London
during the latter part Of the eighteenth
century. This Badl Shem, this master
of the mode Of uttering the Ineffable
name; this holder of an extraordinary
faculty, which was said to have proved
highly valuable to him, was known in
everyday life as DIR. or Rabbi de Falk
He came from Furth, where his mother
had died in straitened circumstances,
and had been buried at the expense of
the congregation. De Falk himself was
without means when he reached this
country. Whether he owned among
his secrets the grand one of the trans
mutation of metals, or followed had
privately some lucrative occupation,
like a common mortal, We are unable to
state. But by all accounts, soon after
his arrival in London, De Falk was seen
to be in possession of considerable
funds, and one of his first cares was to
remit to the congregation Of Furth the
amount of the expenses incurred for
his mothers funeral. Usually De Falk
was well provided with cash; but occa-
sionally he found himself in absolute
need, when he aid not disdain to seek
advances on his plate from pawnbroker
in HOundsditch. The bolts and bars of
the pawnbroker's strong room were
insufficient to contine there Dr. Falk's s
yaluables, when he summoned them
back to his own closet; but he always
honorably acquitted his debt. One dav
shortly after having deposited some
gold and silver vessels with the pawn
broker, the Kabbalist went to the shop
in question, and laying down the dupli-
cate with the sum advanced and exact
interest, he told the shopman not to
trouble himself for the plate as it was
already in his possession. The incredu-
lity with which this statement was re-
ceived changed into absolute dismay
when it was ascertained that DE. Falk's
property had really disappeared, with
out displacing any of the articles that
surrounded it, Rabbi De Falk lived
i'm Wellclose Square, where he kept a
comfortable establishment. He had
there his private synagogue; and he
exercised great benevolence toward the
deserving. He is described as man of
universal knowledge, of singular man.
ners, and of wonderful talent, which
seem to command the supernatural
agencies of spiritual life. Instances
are given of his extraordinary faculties,
by respectable witnesses of his day,
who evidently place implicit faith in
the stories they related. DIR. De Falk
was frequent guest at Aaron Gold
smid's table. One day, it is said, the
Baal Shem was invited to call on one of
Mr.. Goldsmid's visitors, gentleman
dwelling in the Chapter House IN ST.
Paul's churchyard, to hold converse
ton with him in friendly manner on
philosophical subjects. "When will
you come 20 asked the gentleman. De
Falk took from his pocket small piece
of wax candle and, handing it to his
his new acquaintance, replied Light
this sir, when you get home, and shall
be with you as soon the light goes out.
Next morning the gentleman in quest
ion lighted the piece of candle. He
watched it closely, expecting it to be
consumed soon, and then to see De
Falk. In vain. The taper, like the Sc
pulchral lamps of old, burned all day
and all night, without the least diminu-
tion in its flame. He removed the magic
candle into closet, where he inspected
it several times daily for the space of
three weeks. One evening, at last, DR..
De Falk arrived in a hackney coach.
The host had almost given up all ex-
pectation of seeing De Falk, as the
taper, shortly before the advent, was
still burning as brightly as ever. AS
soon as mutual civilities were over, the
master of the house fastened to look at
the candle in the closet. 1t had dis
appeared. When he returned he asked
De Falk whether the agent that had re-
moved the candle would bring back the
candlestick. "Oh yes" was the reply
sit is now in your kitchen below"
which actually proved to be the fact.
Once fire was raging in Dake's Place,
and the synagogue was considered in
imminent danger of being destroyed.
The advice and assistance Of De Falk
| were solicited; he wrote only four He
brew letters on the pillars of the door,
when the wind Immediately changed
| its quarter. and the fire subsidized with
out doing further damage. When DIR.
De Falk made his will, for not all his
knowledge could save him from the
fate of ordinary mortality, he appointed
as his executors Mr.. Aaron Goldsmid.
Mr.. George Goldsmid, and Mr.. De Sy-
mons. He bequeathed to the Great
Synagogue small legacy of f6s 16s.i
and and an annual sum 81 lbs. to who
| ever Iulullcu tlc luuCliOuS VI SuiCi
Rabbi. To Aaron Goldsmid, De Falk.
in token of his friendship, left sealed
packet or box, with strict injunction
that it should be carefully preserved
but not opened. Prosperity to the
Goldsmid family would attend obedi-
ence to De Falk's bequests; while fatal
consequence would follow their disobe-
dience. Some time after the kabbal'
lists death, Aaron Goldsmid, unable tc
overcome his curiosity, broke the sea
of the mysterious packet. On the samt
day he was found dead. Near him wa
the fatal paper, which was covered
with hieroglyphics and cabalistic fig
ures.-Sketches Of Anglo Je,cish History
| Hanged without Warrant.
The Sacramento Bee says: In th'
olden time i'm Plumas county, a maj
was arrested for murder, tried, convic
taJ opd ,aptopcod IN ho hapUad TIL,