Year: 1879

The assembly at the synagogue was
reioiced without measure. They praised
heaven for the help which was sent
them, and many believed that only
through supernatural interference this
help was given. Messengers carrying
the money to the King and we'll in
structcd by the Rabbin how to speak,
were sent off on that very evening.


At the Court of the King there was
a very wicked Minister, a great enemy
to the Jews. He was the Chancellor of
the Exchequer of the Kingdom. When
the messengers Of the Community Of
Ostropol were presented to the King
and, handing him the money, narrated
in eloquent language how poor their
Community was and in what miraculous
manner they were enabled to pay out
this large sum- and the King conde-
scended to take the money and to smile
approvingly and kindly at them, the
wicked Minister arose and addressed his
Majesty and the Court in the following
terms


My Royal Master and Your Excel
lencies the Lords assembled There is
some wrong about the Jews somewhere,
or else their ancestors would not have
killed our Messiah. Now, in the story
which these Jews tell us, there must be
some wrong, too. If they are not poor
and have raised the money from their
own resources, the story is false and in
vented for the purpose Of defrauding
your Majesty of more money which they
could raise ii required. This is treason.
And if they have indeed obtained the
money in supernatural manner, it
must be then that they are skilled in
witchcraft and are worthy to be burned
at the stake"


These words of the wicked Minister
made deep impression on the King
and his Court, and commission of
great Lords was appointed to investi-
gate the matter. When the Community
of Ostropol learned this affecting
news, they were greatly distressed.
They all mourned and walled in antici-
patton of the great misfortune which
threatened them,


The Commission of Lords appointed
by the King arrived into Ostropol
Upon investigation they found the Com
munity really as poor as the Messen-
gers who had carried the money to the
King had represented them to be. Here
upon the King issued an edict that, if
the Jews of Ostropol will not be able
to show that they had obtained the
money by legitimate means, they should
all be burned as sorcerers within thirty
days. When the edict Of the King was
proclaimed in the city, Rabbi Samson
came up to the Rabbn and requested
to be sent to the King, alleging that he
was able to avert the misfortune. The
whole community was surprised to hear
this, as Rabbi Samson had never spoken
before great men, nor held an office Of
any prominence. He was, moreover,
man of very ungainly appearance
When the Rabbin asked him what he
intends to do or to say before the King,
he answered humbly:


" | will say the truth and God has
often chosen the humblest of yassals
as means to help His people,


There was nothing to do but to try
this only means of escape which had
presented itself; Rabbi Samson was sent
to the King, escorted by two represen-
tatiye men Of the Community.


Arrived at the Court and having
gained admittance to the King, Rabbi
Sampson thus addressed His Majesty:


" May the righteous King live and be
prospercd before the Eternal l have
intruded before his august presence for
the purpose of proving that the
Jewish Community of Ostropol had OBJ
tanned the money which they have sent
to your Majesty by perfectly le-