The Jewish advance., 1879-12-19


doubts as to their honesty and purity.
But these proofs | can lay only before
two persons; His Majesty the King him
self and his Minister, the Lord Spangel-
sky (the name Of the wicked enemy Of
the Jews). Not even my brethren and
companions who haYe escorted me
from home, should bel present when |
lay my case before you. | would, there
fore, petition for the favor of private
interview with his Majesty and his Min
lister, and for the permission to bring
with me a small bag of paper to that in
terview."
The petition was granted forthwith,
and Rabbi Samson was taken into
private apartment by the wicked Min
istcr. Here Rabbi Samson presented
his case in the following terms
" [ am a jcweler, residing in the city
of Ostropol. God has prospered me in
my trade so that | coulG help my poor
brethren from time to- time, and also
accumulate competency Of several
thousand guldcns. | have followed the
command of the prophet. to walk dis
cretely before the Lord = and have never
made known to any one. what | did for
my poor brethren, | have sent them
my gifts in the most secret manner. so
that they did not know from whom they
came. On seeing the ECommunity, of
OstropoI in such despair for want of
the money required by your Majesty, [
have scrapcd together every gulden [
had and sent it to the Rabbin in. my us
ual secret manner Heresare all the ac-
counts of my trade By examining
them you viii become Convinced that
every gulden that bad. Came to me BY
honest industry and leSftimate eater
prise. [ have troubled. 5out Majesty
with this strictly private Interview he-
cause [ do not want my brethren even
now to know that the money which has
helped them came from me. [ am
afraid they will praise me for benevo-
lence, while l have only given them
what God had given me, and deserve no
praises. 1t is enough for me that God
has chosen me as the agent for bringing
His help to His people
Thus Rabbi Samson spoke, humbly
and with deep earnestness. The King
was moved to tears at hearing his re-
cital But the wicked Minister insisted
that he would investig Ate the papers
presented by the Rabbi, in order to con
vince himself that the Rabbi spoke the
truth.
The investigation lasted three days,
after which term Rabbi Samson was
dismissed from the Court with grace;
the edict to burn the Jews Of Ostropol |
was revoked and a new edict was issued, |
that that Community be free from taxes
for the term Of twenty years, in order /
that they may recover .trom their i'm |.
poverishcd condition. Rabbi Samson /
ICU(ti HCQ ~ HIS CIT ditu ICSuIlch his /
everyday life as though nothing had |
happened. Nobody knew what he had
spoken to the King and how he had |.
turned the evil edict into such a great
favor When the Rabbin of the Com
munity asked him about that, he an
swered humbly; God. .has inspired me
with wisdom to lay the truth before the
King in a manner that it should enter
his heart A great many believed that .
the Rabbi had performed great miracles
before the King. Every Israelite CON
sidercd him a righteous and good man.
and his name became known more IA
vorably than that of any Rabbin of his
time. But he continued to lead quiet
and peaceful life, refused to raise his
voice in communal affairs, and kept Sc
cret all the deeds Of benevolence which
he continued to perform.
(To be Continued.)
Whatever you dislike in another per-
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