Year: 1879

On one summer afternoon, Rabbi
Simeon. the chief Rabbi of Mayence,
was sitting in his study in deep medita-
ton. There were several large volumes
of Talmudical lore lying scattered on
his table, just as they were left by his
disciples who studied under his guidance
few hours previously. But the Rabbi
did not mind these books at that mo-
ment. He was under the influence of a
holy inspiration. His head reclined on
one hand, the other hand rested on a
parchment which was spread before him,
while his lips whispered slowly some
words Suddenly bright glance flashed
in his eyes he took a pen and wrote
down two or three verses on the parch-
ment. 1t was sentiment of his heart
which the Rabbi expressed in manner
as skillful as his bright and lofty mind
could invent Thus the finishing touch
was given to the grand opening-hymn
for the prayers of New Years day,
which our people still repeat every year
with devout hearts. In that hymn the
Eternal is magnifed as King and Ruler
of the universe, before whose sight
nothing is concealed, and the glory of
whom is to be proclaimed with the voice
of the Shophor The style Of that
hymn flows easily and magnifcently, as
the worthy garb of the sentiments it
expresses. The sentences are beauti-
fully Joined with one another, and the
rhymes of the most melodious nature.
Acrostics of the Alphabet and of the
authors name are artistically woven in
at the beginning Of each verse, without
impeding the easy flow of style or OBJ
scuring the lofty ideas which the hymn
contains.


Rabbi Simeon was now reviewing the
whole poem with just satisfaction, when
the door quietly opened and child of
remarkable beauty stole in unperceived.
It was the youngest son of the Rabbi, a
boy four years old. He crept behind
his fathers chair and looked into the
manuscript which the latter had before
him.


Father, dear father" the child sud
denly exclaimed, "you wrote down my
name on that parchment; did you not :?
There rightin the beginning: 'El chonam
nachzatho benoam zehashpor,'" he read
with remarkable fuency.


The Rabbi took the boy on his knees,
and kissing his glowing cheeks said:


"Yes, my Elchanan, I have put thy
name also in that poem. When our
brethren will stand in holy worship be-
fore the Lord on New Years day, and
utter their sentiments in the words Of
this hymn, thy name shall be remem-
bered with mine. But dost thou under
stand the meaning of the sentence which
thou hast read so beautifully p


Il know the meaning of the first few
words: God graced his inheritance with
sweetness, but [ do not know what the
word '1ehashpar' means"


"It means to beautify,' my child.
The sentence expresses the idea that
God has graced the people of Israel
with his holy injunctions, and thereby
beautifed them with sweetness of dis
position and virtue. Israel has been the
chosen people to which the knowledge
of the Eternal was vouchsafed first, and
is therefore called the inheritance Of
God By observing the injunctions of
the holy law, we become graceful and
agreeable in the sight of God and men.
Remember this, my child, whenever you
hear your name mentioned"


The boy took the parchment and read
several times the opening sentence, while
the pious Rabbi regarded him with joy