The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09
LED BY A SPIRIT FACE.
Lone and Mysterious Journeys of n
Learned Rabbi.


With the vision of dark-haired Orien
tai beauty ever before him. Rabbi Racha-
min Chayin Cohen has wandered the
world over in search of a wife to fill the
empty place left in his heart when his
first helpmeet died. This was many years
ago, in Palestine, and the poor mans
sorrow was twofold. For soon after his
wife went to sleep" as the Fasteners
say. his swarthy. dark-eyed son pinned
away and died He was laid in a grave
beside his mother and then it was that
Rabbi Cohen, although known and loved
by thousands of his countrymen felt that
he was alone in cold world. His friends,
the people of his congregation, came TO
him and offered words OF consolation.
AS heartfelt and sincere as they were, he
refused to be comforted. Ask the rabbi
about his wife and child now and he says
with tears: They slumber."
For the past few days the mysterious
Oriental has been stopping with friends
at 524 South Fourth Street. His strange
dress, his dignifed. almost naughty bear
ing, and the intense spirituality which
CLEANS from his deep-set eyes have at
tracted the attention of his neighbors.
They do not scoff, however, for there is
no respect like that OF the Hetrew for
his rabbi Even in this city he is search
ing for a bride, one who will in every
way fulfill his notions OF an ideal wife.
He is a scholar of great note. and his
companioc must be a woman of Brilliant
conversational powers. His search here
he has about given up in vain, aud he
said yesterday that in another week he
would leave for Egypt in the hope of
finding his ideal there.
The rabbi, with all his picturesque
Oriental ways, has become thoroughly i'm
bued with the spirit OF Americanism and
he has even gone so far as to take out
his first naturalization papers. He de-
clares that when he returns from Egypt
with his wife he will take up his abode
here in Philadelphia, for OF all the cities
in the world-and he has been in all the
great ones-this pleases him the best of
all.
The rabbits story Of his wanderlngs over
the earth is pathetic in the extreme. and
it is hard to realize that he is not the
original of Eugene Sues masterpiece His
track has led him across Arabia through
Turkey, across the sandy, arid steppes of
Russia, into the sunny yine-clad hills Of
France and Northern Italy. and even to
the ice-bound shores of Sweden and Nor
way
His last great journey was across the
Atlantic to the big new world. IN this
country he has travelled extensively and
has met many of the present day Hebrew
scholars. With tender feelings he speaks
of the great Rabbi Wise, of Cincinnati.
and points lovingly to the books OF that
learned man.
Rachamin Chayin Cohen wears the long
flowing gown and fez of the Egyptian, for
1t was in the land of the Khedive that he
las: administered to the wants of his
flock.
In this garb," he said yesterday, "a
command the respect OF every Jew in the
world. If leave it off they point to me
in scorn. / am from the holy city of
Jerusalem and am a rabbi of the first
| order Since my wife slumbered-and
| the boy, ah, he too is asleep-I have
wandered the world over in search of a
| helpmeet. I will find her soon now, for
l am growing to be an old man, and Gods
rewards, though sometimes late. always
come at last to the faithful"
The rabbi when seen yesterday. was
deep in the study of the ancient Talmud.
He was seated in a dingy little room in
the very top of the big old house on
/ Fourth Street. but even this dark study
was sanctifed by the presence in tab
/ ernaele Of the handsomely embroidered
scroll of the sacred law.
with this" said the rabbi spreading
| out on the table whole bag Of glittering
| golden eagles, 81 will leave for Egypt
next week. But ] viii return again. l
would be American and have flock OF
my own here. ]. too. will soon slumber,
/ but much good work must be done before
! that time"