Year: 1869

next to the great Maimoun, or
Maimonides, of European fame.
stands Raschi, or as he was more
properly called, Schlomo hen Isaac.
He wrote commentary on Thora
and on several of the books of the
Prophets and also one on the Tai
mud. He was great mathemati
clan, and among his own people
was reverenced for his sanctity and
asceticism.


His pa ents lived in Toulop, but
Raschi was born in Troyes, and
this is the reason why his father
Isaac and his mother left Toulon.
Shortly before the birth of the
child the good woman walked down
a narrow street. A cumbrous wag-
on was being drawn along by four
stout horses, and the wagon filled
the street so as to make it impossi-
BILE to pass. Seeing this, the wo-
man tuned to seek side street, but
at that moment the car of a young
nobleman drove up to the lane
toward her. The timid woman ran
from side to side in quest of a cor
ner into which she might retreat
from the two vehicles


Look at the Jewess ~ exclaimed
the driver OF the nobleman's car


whip the horses and run her
down." said the master.


The two vehicles approached, and
the poor creature, finding no place
of retreat, with piteous cry shrank
against the wall. At that momen mt
the huge wheel of the wagon rolled
towards her, almost grazing the
house wall. Then, suddenly, the
wall bowed inward and formed a
little recess in which the Jewish
stood secure.


"Softer and more yielding are
these stones than your hearts, We
Christians p she exclaimed,


Now when this miracle was
known, it was at once concluded
that it wss wrought by magic, and
Isaac, fearing lest it should be the
cause of their both being brought
to the stake, fled precipitately to
Troyes, and there Raschi was
born.


When Raschi was an old man,
and was renowned everywhere for
his vast learning and profound wis
dom, and above all, for his great
holiness, the school wherein he
taught was. crowded with pupils,
and his sayings were treasured as
though they were precious like
gold. He tasted continuously, only
eating what was just sufficient to
keep life in, and what he ate was OF
poor quality. and was mingled with
ashes. He drank nothing save
water, and of that only little once
a day. He remained whole nights
in PRAYER. and when not engaged in
teaching during the day he stood
wrapped in meditation.


AS he stood at his window one
evening two Jews passed, and they
were speaking of him.


One said to the other, ssW as there
ever in the days of the prophets a
greater saint than is this Rabbi
Raschi


To which the other replied /:
''Sarely for him there must be pre-
pared one of the most exalted
stations in Paradise"


Then the Rabbi fell to musing on
the place that was to be his in the
Kingdom of God, and he wondered
who would be his companion in the
Land of Light, and sit at his side in
Paradise. With his thoughts fixed
on this theme, he stood long at his
| window gazing out over the vine
| clad hills towards the horizon where
| the sun had set, and where its rays
shot upward, kindIiag the finely
attenuated vapor which hung in the
air, and making the blue of Heaven
green as grass. Level bars Of cloud
burned like gold in a furnace, and
small misty fragments glowed scar
let, like fiery lilies growing in a
field Of sunlit grass between strips
of yellow crocuses.


AS the old man stood with his
eyes fixed on the west, and his mind
revolving the thoughts suggested
by the speakers, he saw the western
| sky undergo a sudden transforma
ton, the golden clouds became
steps of light in a pavement oil
amethyst, and on these platforms
were pairs of golden thrones with
gorgeous robes of ruby tissue cast
over them. and in these robes Idia
monds were set, and as the light
changed they twinkled like sparks
that wander about the ashes Of con
sumed paper. Upon each throne {
name was written with lightning
brilliancy. And the Rabbi saw or
two of the highest-two that stood
side by side on the same stake


Rabbi ben Isaac, of Regensburg
and Abraham ben Gerson, of Bar


celona. AS soon as the old mar


made out these names the light


faded and he found that the SKY


was dark, that only faint amber


glow remained above the horizon


and that stars were shining in thu
dark blue vault. So he shut hi


window, and busted himself through


the night in gathering together


few necessaries for the journey, fo


he was resolved ere break Of day t.


start for Barcelona and to make thu


acquaintance Of Abraham ben Ger


son, who was to be his companion
, in Paradise.


After a tedious journey, Rasch


arrived in Barcelona, his feet sor


with walking. and his palm frette'


with the staff he held. and hi


shoulders CALLED with the knapsacl