The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-03
FAsTS 40 DAYS To
SHOW GRATITUDE
Mrs. Harkavy, Orthodox Jewess Lives
Up Literally To Teachings
Of Her Religion.

NEW YORK. Dec Mrs Mollie
Harkavy OF No 81 Jacksonst.. an
orthodox Jewess, believes In holding
fast To the faith of her fathers. In
the Old Testament, OF which she is a
close student, she has read how, In
ancient days. IL was the custom OF
those who had been brought out OF
affliction 10 abstain from food for
long periods as means OF showing
their gratitude.
So when her son was delivered
from a sick bed. after the men OF
medicine had shaken their heads
gravely over his case. for he nad
spinal meningitis. Mrs. Harkavy swore
on the Talmud that she would fast
forty days. She keeping her pledge
now. Not forty successive days or
fasting, be II understood Signor Sue
CT might do that Mrs. Harkavy, VINO
is big and stout, cannot.
There are certain days In the week
when not even a piece OF unleavened
bread passes her lips and she does not
sip so much as n cup OF water. rms.
she explained TO reporter, Is the
method she chooses OF giving thanks
to the God OF Abraham. Isaac and
Jacob that her boy has been preserv-
ed TO her. out of full heart she mas
bestowed a new name upon him. IL Is
"Hymich." which means In Hebrew
10 live. He was christened Frank.
Mrs. Harkavy and her son live on
the second floor OF a rear tenement
not far from Corlears Hook. The love
existing between mother and son Is
the talk OF the district. He Is her
only child She works for him ana
for him alone and listens for his foot
fall In the afternoon when he returns
from school.
One day in September. Frank. who
"a nine wears old. went home TO No.
AZ Jackson.st. with faltering steps.
Mrs Harkavy caught him up quickly
and nut him TO bed. the mothers IN
stinct telling her the child was ABOUT
10 he seriously Ill. Frank grew
worse. DR.. Meyer Rabinovitz OF NO
243 East Broadway was called In. his
practiced eye discovered the syHip
toms OF spotted fever. and he heid out
small hope OF the patient recovery
The faith OF the woman ana lhe
mother was founded on a rock. she
wrapped her shawl about her ana
turned her steps toward the Schneer
Synagogue. at Madison and Montsom-
ery.sts. There, in the quiet or the
holy place. she sank upon her knees
and prayed long and fervently that
the little Frank might be spared 10
her.
Day after day she was TO be found
In the synagogue. There came one
day when they told her that Frank
was dying. Mrs. Lena Levy also oi
No. 81 Jackson-st., ran 10 carry the
mother the message. Into the syha'
cogue she fastened and touched the
mother on the shoulder
'The boy" she whispered lis dying.
They say he cannot live five min
utes"
Mrs. Harkavy clenched her hands
She turned her face upward to the
lighted candles and prayed with great
or fervor The boy took a turn Tor
the better and steadily gained
strength. Yesterday he was able 10
to yo to school again.
Mrs. Harkavy has completed four
teen DAYS Of the prescribed forty and
saws she feels no i'll effects Mondays
and Thursdays she eats nothing.
Mrs Harkavy has also bought long
candles as n symbol of her thanks ana
set them in the synagogue Every
time she pravs the candles are hght-
ed and she thinks OF Gods mercies.