The Jewish advance., 1879-08-15
COPYRIGHT sECUREDl
THE FALL OF BETHAR.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE ADAPTED FROM THE
HEBREW.
BY REV. DAVID STERN.
Concluded.

Concluded.
"You. however, my dear children !!
you will not die you will live to spread
and promulgate the law in Israel, to ele-
vate it's holy flag wherever the remnant
of Judah is banished, and to widen its
tents from the rising of the sun even unto
the setting thereof. You, Meir you
will fill my position after my death,
you viii teach our nation the science of
the Law, and lead them through its in
tricate paths; and though circumstances
may involve you in many and divers un-
pleasant affairs, and the sages of Israel
may not agree with your method Of ex
pounding the Law-for they may not
comprehend your profound knowledge
still, in the end. your brethren will praise
you; they will laud you in vast assemblies
after they once understand your deep
ideas, and they will confess that you en-
lightened the eyes of all Israel in Re
ligion and Law. You, Shameon you
will be Jealous for the honor Of the Law,
and always ready to fight the battles of
truth and justice, therefore you will al
ways be disliked and hated But still
you must give yourself no rest from
laboring in the Law until all it's pro-
found secrets are revealed before you,
and until you understand its mysteries,
which are hidden from the eyes of the
living. Your name will be honored to
the end of time. You, also, Yosi you
also will drink from the bitter cup, and
great troubles will also surround you,
but you must bend your shoulders to all
earthly misfortunes, and bow your head
before the waves of worldly Affections
and troubles, uncomplainingly. And
you, Yehudo you will be blessed on
earth and in heaven, for religion and wis
dom will be entwined in your tent, like
twin sisters they will always dwell in
your shadow, and all the children of Is
rael will respect and honor praise and
admire you. All ye learned men and
sages who are assembled here, may you
all live in joy and happiness, and be we
strong in defending the fortress of our
holy religion Let true peace abide in
your tents, for peace is the fountain of
life and the source of all good and bless
ing. Let each Of you love his neighbor
as himself, and become not divided into
different sects in matters Of law and re-
ligion. Seek for the truth, be as humble
and as anxious to understand God and
His law as the Pharisees, and pursue
peace; be merciful, and investigate the
secret foundations of the Law and it's
wonderful paths of wisdom, like the Es-
senes, but avoid and keep away from the
paths of the Zaducees and Samaritans,
and, above all, guard your souls from
following the footsteps of the blind and
thoughtless Epicureans. Peace be with
you, my dear and beloved sons and dis
ciples, communicate my blessings to my
sons and daughters, to my grandchildren
and to all my relatives give my best
wishes to them, the beloved of my soul,
and tell them to remember the lessons
which impaired to them this morning
before they separated from me during
my life in this world Impart my last
blessings to all those who remain true
and faithful to Israel and tell them that
[ died gladly for the honor Of Gods
word and His holy Law. And now, my
dear sons and disciples, now approach
and receive your old teachers benedic-
ton before he parts from you; | will
lift my hands from their heavy chains,
and will pronounce ON you the threefold
blessings which were revealed to Aaron
i. and his priestly sons, to bless Herewith
ke children of Israel"
disciples arose and stood before