Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-16
ROSES FROM THE TALNIUD.
Lessons of Wisdom That WIN Be Read
with Interest.
[. S. Naaes IN Chieaao Current.

legend, decision and Interpretation, wit
and wisdom, embracing the views and
principles of a thousand rabbis stretching
over nearly thousand years-can aptly
be compared with garden. But, although
the cline IS an eastern one, and the sky
and atmosphere wholly different from our
own, certain roses that pose in that gar
den, appeal to the human heart in every
age. For the old rabbis were workers of
sturdy calibre. In centuries of continu-
Gus persecution, they preserved a wonder
full buoyancy of spirit. They were poets
of a rugged build, whose lives We're songs
and melodies. They were lOwlY artisans.
plying useful trades-Paul was a tent
maker and he was a rabbinical disciple
and when the days toll was over, they
would gather in the school, to which they
attached more Importance than the syna-
gOgue, and debate about the law and the
testimony.
Now, the roses in the Talmudic garden
are the tales and legends that give color
and beauty to the abstract legal def
nitions and discussions - the parallels
which tighten the otherwise grave and
severe narrative and bring home the truth
to the popular mind in so clear and con-
Yinclng a way. Let us Gull few of these
rOses-a few fresh varieties which will
probably be new to the general reader;
4 king had in his garden a yaWning pit
of great magnitude. One day he hired
number of wOrkmen to fill it up. Some
went to the sides of the pit, and as thew
saw its depth they eXclaimed: ''How is
it possible to fill it," And they gave up
the work in despair. But the others said:
"What matters it how deep it is We
are engaged for the day and are happy to
have something to do. Let us be faithful
in our duty, and we Will ill the pit as
soon as we possibly can" Let not man
say: GLOW Unreasonable IS the Divine
law, it is deeper than the sea, how many
statutes to perform, how can we GO
the ,ut~ God says to mo- Try
engaged by the dav > "a, thou art
thou aapst. ana 40 the work which
A p-' mink Of naught else.
,Ince once distributed costly gar
ments among his slaves. The wise ones
kept theirs carefully, but the foolish
wore theirs even on WOrk-days. Suddenly
the Prince summoned his slaves in his
presence and said: 81 wish to see again
the clothes which / gave you" The gar
ments OF the wise slaves were clean, with
out fold or stain; but the attire of the
foolish slaves was stained and spoilt.
Earnestly rang out the Princes words:
"He wise ones, take YOUR garments home
and live in peace! Ye foolish ones, cast
them into the fire to cleanse themv Let
thy soul return to its Maker as pure as
when given thee. God may summon it at
any moment.
Rabbi JoAanan went out walking with
some friends, and crossing a field he
stopped, and pointing to a beautiful vine !
yard, said: This was mine, and | sold |
it for the poor, so that | might devote nv |
self wholly to study Going further, he |
pointed to a spacious field: "This too, he |
exclaimed, ''Once was mine! but | sold il. /
so as to have no other care than my holy /
studies" A few minutes walk brought /
them to another field: '.This was nv last /
pOssessIOn," he said, ''but I gave it up.
so that | might have no other thought |
than the study of the law His friends, |
saddened at his words, replied: "What !
hast thou preserved for thy old age?v
Are We anxious on that accOunt?v said he
smiling. 'Why, have resigned THINGS
which are given us only for a few days,
for a possession that will last much
lOnger.V
A sage of old, who acted as judge, de-
voted all his time to the public service
and seldom had a moments rest. One
day, as he FASTENED from the bath and
entered the tribunal to decide questions
of law, his servant gave him a glass of
wine to refresh his energies. The sage
was on the point of taking the Wine when
he was interrupted by some urgent case, |
and left the glass untouched. In the
the servant had seated HIM
self and was fast asleep. The sage gazed
al Oluu anu uuJlC0u Iue sleeping servant.
lie broke oil for q moment the thread of
discussion, and said: GLOW wretched.
after all, is our greatness How sweet is
this poor mans sleep. Our greatness al
lows us neither rest nor sleep"
Once a sage met the prophet Elijah in
the crowded market place, and full of Gu
riOsity he asked Elijah who of all the
hustllug throng would DO saved? '' 'sNone,"
rejoinod the prophet slowly. EsNVuaU,"
replied the sage, mo one Of ali these
peOple| At this moment, two men en-
tered the street, and mingled with the
crowd. They seemed in humble circum-
and no one noticed them or babe
them greeting. "These Will be saved"
said the prophet. The sage, advancing
reverently towards them, said: ''Will you
not kindly tell me what is your Occupa-
ton in life? What are your virtues
What are your deeds p ''Yirtues, deeds %
they replied. ''In truth you must be con-
tusing us with somebody else. We are poor
people and live by the work of eur hands,"
Our only merit is that we have merry
hearts. When we meet one who is sad,
we strive to chase away his sorrow. When
we learn OF two who are at enmity, we /
step in and seek to make peace. This is
our life-WOrk.7
When the Egyptians sank into the sea,
angels prepared to sing hymn of joy.
Then God spoke in his anger: ''Mv crea-
sing song!" When the hour for heath
enlsm's fall draws nigh, so as to make
room for lsrael's triumph, Heaven will
eXclaim: Both are my creatures. shall /
destroy one for the otherY' The Lord s.
sured Moses: ''Israeite or heather, man
or woman, servant or freeman, all are
equal in my sight, every good deed has its
reward"
Joshua ben Hanania was highly es-
teemed for his wisdom at the Roman
court, but his personal appearance was
not prepOsseSsing, for he was small and
exceedingly plain. One day the Empe-
ror's daughter exclaimed as she saw him
pass: "What hIdeOus covering for so
much WisdOmw Unabashed by her words
be stopped to speak to her, and after some
casual talk asked her how her fathers
wine was preserved. "Why, in earthern
Jars" she replied. ''Earthern jars" he
reiOined. ''rhat is the usual way, l
know, but an EmperOr's wine should be
preserved in golden casks" You
are right" she answered, and ran to
order the wine to be placed in silver or gOl-
den vessels. But soon it turned sour. The
Emperor being informed of the fact, had
his daughter summoned, who told him of
the rabbits advice. At once they sent for
Joshua. "What peculiar advice!" said
the Emperor. 'Dost thou wish my wine
to be destrOyed?" Il wished to give your
daughter a lesson" the rabbi rejoined.
Your daughter laid stress on external
beauty alone and despIsed me on account
Of my figure. Wisdom, like wine, keeps
best in plain jars" But" added the
Princess, 81 know some who are both
wise and handsome They would be
WISER" said the rabbi, elf they were less
handsome"
Such are few Of the roses that grow in
the garden of the Talmud and Midrash,
whose fragrance is for all time. Their
ethical beauty and moral suggestiyeness
gain with their years. They formed the
nursery lore of Hebrew children, and
upon them heroic and sturdy nation was
nourished. The ethics Of the Talmud
gave the jew such moral sturdiness and
strength that Heine was perfectly justified
in the remark: Il see now, the Greeks
were only beautiful youth, but the Jews
were always men, powerful, unbending
men,"