Chapter 124: Meritorious

### Story Date

Sunday, 8 May, AD 1043/6551 ε.Κ/25 Ramadan 434 AH/25 Huai-Yue Huangyou Era Year 1/25 Harpa ÅrO -1

## Appearances

### Locations

Saint-Malo
Berk
Shu Province
Constantinople
Faaborg
Almatu

*In another area of marked divergence among the major Abrahamic faiths, consider the differences in respective conceptions of ‘venerable holy person’ between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, termed, respectively, as* Tzadik, Saint*, and* Wali*, each of them in turn embodying the orthoprax (correct practice) or orthodox (correct belief) nature of their respective faiths. First, we come to terminological differences that differentiate how these concepts are even conceived of. In Judaism,* Tzadik *is derived from the root word צדק,* tsedek*, which means ‘righteousness,’ ‘fairness,’ or ‘justice,’ whereas* Saint *is derived from the Latin* Sanctus*, meaning ‘holy,’ and* Wali *literally translates as ‘Friend of God’ and is often given the connotations of ‘master’, ‘authority’, ‘custodian,’ or ‘protector’.*

*For Judaism, a tzadik is, in essence, someone who exemplifies the orthopraxic nature of the religion—following Jewish laws in a righteous manner, acting with humility, and when they do lead, leading by example and education. Other related concepts that cast light on the position that tzadikim hold within Judaism include* Tzedakah*, which is the giving of contributions of money or resources to the needy and to good causes. Compared with the Christian concept of ‘charity’, where the giving of such contributions is framed as an act of philanthropic goodwill and generosity on the part of the giver, in Judaism,* tzedakah *is an ethical requirement to live a righteous life, as exemplified by the tzadik. In short, a Jewish tzadik is venerated and held up as exemplary not because they are innately holy or blessed or pious, but because their actions exemplify that which is held as the correct path of the Jewish ideal and draw them closer to the divine as a result.*

*In contrast, a Christian saint is an individual of exemplary faith, as suiting the orthodox nature of the religion…*

*—Divine Light Through The Gem Of Man: Studying The Many Facets Of The Holy, Waterford University Press, 1692*

## Major Events

* Horsefeathers and Lile approach Rabbi Dovid about converting to Judaism.
* Ross reports to the Hooligans that Snotlout tamed a Nest Lord for the Byzantines.
* Mulan tames and befriends Mushu, naming him after the food she gave him.
* Stoick orders Hiccup to go with a delegation heading south to prevent him from going to the Byzantines.
* Sigurd informs Theodora that dragon dung is a potent fertiliser but he is not believed by others. Theodora solves the issue by granting him management of an imperial farming estate to prove its potency.
* Dovid grants his son Maor permission to learn to fight from the other Hooligan boys.
* Drago and Kelebek attempt to marry, but the wedding ceremony is interrupted by an insurrection.

## Characters

### Humans

* Hawiz Breizh (first appearance)
* Esther bat Rivkah
* Maor ben Dovid
* Horsefeathers Hensteethsson
* Líle
* Dovid ben Eliezer
* Menachem ben Moshe
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Picknose Rolfsson
* Fa Mulan
* Li Shang
* Ross Alansson
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Fishlegs clan Ingerman
* Tuffnut Thicknutsson
* Stoick the Vast
* Bladewit Drorsdóttir
* Zeor (first named appearance)
* Nathan (first named appearance)
* Judah (first named appearance)
* Sigurd Trondsson
* Theodora Porphyrogenita
* Rivkah
* Cami Berthasdóttir
* Eret Eretsson
* Drago Bludvist
* Kelebek

### Dragons

* Toothless
* Mushu

## Analysis

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph explains what Tzadik means in Judaism. The chapter shows Dovid referring to Dror as Tzadik.