Year: 1869

AMONG the most learned and pious Jews
of the twelfth century, next to the great
Maimoun or Maimonides of European
fame, stands Raschi, or as he was more
properly called, Schlorao ben Isaac. He
wrote commentary on Thora and on
several of the books Of the Prophets, and
also one on the Talmud He was great
mathematician, and among his own peo-
pie was reverenced for his sanctity and
=asceticism.


His parents lived in Toulon, 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 q
marrow street. A cumbrors wagon was
being drawn along it by four stout horses,
and the wagon filed the street, so as to
make it impossible to pass Seeing this
the woman turned to seek side street.
but at that moment the car of young
mobleman drove up the lane toward her.
The timid woman ran from side to side in
quest of corner into which she might re-
treat from the danger of being crushed by
one of the vehicles.


"Look at the Jewessr' exclaimed the
driver of the noblemans car; chow
frightened she isl


"Whip the horses and run her down."
said his master.


The two vehicles approached, and the
poor creature, findir G no place of retreat,
with piteous cry shrank against the wall.
At that moment the huge wheel of the
wagon rolled toward her almost grazing
the house wall Then, suddenly, the wall
bowed inward and formed a little recess,
I'm which the Jewess stood secure.


"SofLer and more yielding are these
stones than your hearts, ye Christians ,"
she exclaimed


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


When Raschi was an old man, and was
renowned everywhere for his vast learn
ing and profound wisdom, and above all
for his great holiness, the school wherein
he taught was crowded with pupils, and
his ssyings were treasured as though they
were precious like gold. He tasted CON
rtinuously, only eating what was just suffi
scient to keep life in, and what he ate was
sof poor quality, and was mingled with
ashes. He drank nothing save water, and
of that only little, once a day. He re-
hAoihSN WhOiC ubS PioJ hhd WhCH
not engaged in teaching during the day,
he stood rapt in meditation.


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


One said to the other, "Was there ever
in the days of the prophets greater saint
than is this Rabbi Raschi ?"


TO which the other replied, "Surely for
him there must be prepared 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 vineclad hills,
toward the horizon where the sun had set,
and where its rays shot upward, kindling
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 furnace, and small,
misty fragments glowed scarlet, like fiery
lilies growing in a field of suDlit grass be-
tween 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





transformation; the golden clouds became
steps of light in a pavement of amethyst,
aud on these platforms were placed pairs
of golden thrones with gorgeous robes OF
ruby tissue cast over them, and in these
robes diamonds were set, and as the light
changed they twinkled like sparks that
wander about the ashes of consumed
paper. Upon each throne n name was
written with lightning brilliancy. And
the Rabbi saw on two of the highest-two
that stood side by side on the same stage
- ---Raschi ben Isaac, of Regensburg, and
Abraham ben GersOn, of Barcelona. AS
soon as the old man had 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 the stars were shining in the dark
vault. So he shut his window, and he
busted himself through the night in gath
ering together few nece ssaries for a jour
ney, for he was resolved ere break ot
day to start for Barcelona, and to make
the acquaintance of Abraham ben Gerson
who was to be his companion in Paradise
Z After tedious journey, Raschi arrived
in Barcelona, his feet sore with walking
and his palm fretted with the staff he held
and his shoulders CALLED with the straps o.
the little knapsack which held his clothe:
and provisions. As he entered the towr
he thought to himself, 81 will not men
tion the holy man by name, but will see
whether the Hebrews here know of hi
high merit and future exaltation." Then
meeting Jewish wood cutter, he stopped
him, and said;