Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of story: The Golem Origin: Eastern Europe, Nineteenth Century Page Numbers: 265-270 Summary: In the reign of Emperor Rudolf in Prague lived Rabbi Judah Loew who was taught in mysteries by Rabbi Adam. In one year he had a dream of being in Christian quarters of Prague and he witnessed a murder of a child being thrown in the sack and then carried to the Jewish section of the ghetto and left inside a Jewish house. The person who did this was an evil sorcerer named Thaddeus who planned on accusing the Jews of blood libel. [My note: In the past since 1200s, Christians accused Jews of killing children and using their blood for matzos during Passover/Easter time. " A TERRIBLE LIE. NEVER HAD SUCH A THING BEEN DONE ." (266)]. Later he saw a flock of birds make G-d's name and saw a man of clay which can be awakened by the word Emet which means Truth. Rabbi Judah Loew tried to figure out the meaning and found out that should Thaddeus accuse them of blood libel there...

Name of story: The healing waters Origin: Turkey: Oral tradition Page Numbers: 209-216 Summary: It begins with the legend that King Solomon had a mysterious Mikvah which is a ritual bath whose waters healed all who came seeking aid. King Solomon was legendary among the entire earth, and in Turkey the legend of the bath was well known. There was an evil minister who desired to bring harm to all the Jews and to one in particular, David ben Abraham. The evil minister approached the Sultan and convinced him to get a bath just like that of King Solomon. The Sultan was flattered and asked of the secret. The evil minister then convinced him that the secret is in possession of Jews, of David ben Abraham in particular. The sultan called him over. Sultan then orders him to build the bath and fill it with miraculous waters just like that of King Solomon and gives him a year to complete the task. If he succeeds he will become a governor, and if he fails every single Jew will lose the...

Name of story: The Donkey Girl Origin: Iraq: Oral Tradition Page Numbers: 202-208 Summary: The Rabbi decides to visit a friend of his and on the way he meets an old who happens to be a witch and is mistreating the donkey who is the friend Rabbi wants to see. He and the witch exchange some words, and the witch then curses the Rabbi's unborn child, saying it will have a head of the donkey, which is what happens. They secluded the daughter in a room and the Rabbi taught her Torah and whatnot and she became apt and wise. Many years later a student came to the Rabbi desiring to learn only Torah. The Rabbi taught him Torah and one day he asks a question that Rabbi doesn't answer, but the girl does. Immediately the student becomes lovesick and wants to marry the woman and nothing the Rabbi says or does makes an impression on him. The marriage is carried through and due to a law that a groom cannot see the bride until the wedding night, he has no idea she has a head of a...

Name of story: David's Harp Origin: Palestine Nineteenth Century Page Numbers: 163-167 Summary: King Davis is an owner of a magical harp; one that inspired him to write Psalms, and also one that showed him the future, when his son will built a magnificent temple and how that temple will be destroyed. Years pass, and after the exile the Jews returned to rebuild their home; among them Shabbatai who wondered where the magical harp could be located and how he can recover it and find out its fate. He concluded that perhaps the harp can be found hanging on a willow tree in Babylon. Everyone laughed and joked at him, and when the desire became great, he left his family and began to travel to Babylon. He had a difficult journey but believing that the harp was calling him, he somehow made it through the terrible perils. He searched through all the trees next to Babylon River but then became convinced that the harp wasn't anywhere to be found. He started to beg the sages...

Name of story: The Golden Amulet Origin: Palestine, c. Eighth Century Page Numbers: 156-162 Summary: This tries to answer the question of what happened to Dinah's child. It starts with Joseph being thrown into the pit and how he learned the mysteries of life and gained wisdom and various knowledge, including the future. Then only thing that is left out is his destined bride. Then after he left it moves on to the infamous story of Dinah, that she was modest and one day Schechem son of Hamor the Hitite, hearing stories about Dinah's legendary beauty, hired some singer and dancing girls to pass by the tent. She came out and he raped her. She became pregnant. The other brothers became very angry about the fact and wanted to throw the baby into the pit. Jacob, who desired no harm to come to the child, created an amulet for her that identified her mother and the family along with a blessing. Jacob gave the amulet to Dinah and when the time came they went to the fields wh...

Name of story: The Maiden in the Tree Origin: Eastern Europe 19th century Page Numbers: 49-55 Summary: King Solomon is entertaining Queen of Sheba and tells her that for G-d each match is as difficult as parting the Red Sea. Queen of Sheba doesn't believe him and tells him lets put the theory to the test. She will choose an unmarried girl to go into a tree and the test will be whether or not she'll meet her match this way. She chose a beautiful maiden and both approached her. He was taken to her home, gave her money and told her family that she will be employed for five years. Only after the consent of the family did he tell her the fate; she will be alone for five years in a tree. He gave her ways of entertainment such as musical instruments and a loom and a magical pheasant will be guarding over her and will bring whatever she needs. Several years later, a captain's son attempted to steer the boat but then the storm arose and tossed him overboard. The father...

Name of story: The Sword of Moses Origin: Iraqi Kurdistan Page Numbers: 39- 47 Summary: Before Moses dies, he speaks of a sword and shield that should protect the Jews. After death, no one knows where the sword is located and how it can be found. In Kurdistan there are three young Jews who desire to find the sword to help their family. They set out to travel to the mountains. The three friends also debate on their expectations when it comes to the sword and what it could do once they find it. A blind old man has heard of their quest and asks a servant to bury the sword in the village land and direct the Jews towards it. Once they'll unearth the sword, they will be arrested. The servant does as he's instructed. They are brought before the blind head of the village who then accuses them of plotting a rebellion to overthrow the neighbors. They deny this charge and the eldest one, the clever one tells him they are seeking Sword of Moses to sell it for money. If the...

Name of the story:  Miraculous Dust Origin:  Babylon, c. 5th century Page Numbers 20-22 Summary: It was time for gifts so Jews sent Nachum Ish Gam-Zu to the Roman Emperor with a box of jewels. Nachum Ish Gam-Zu stopped at a hotel and the innkeeper and his wife stole the jewels and placed into the box dust from the hotel. Nachum Ish Gam-Zu continued to travel, not knowing that the jewels were stolen. He arrived at the court and announced he has come here with a gift. Caesar opened the box and saw the dust. He was angry and started condemning Jews and threatened them in various ways. A miracle occurred then, when an old man, known as Elijah the Prophet (its believed that Elijah often disguises himself as an old man and helps the Jews whenever the time is needed.) talks and convinces the Caesar that Jews would do no such thing and perhaps its a miracle dust. The Caesar listens to him and when he tries out the dust he finds out indeed that its a miracle dust, for it...