Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/136

 118

71ic

son?"

me

Book of Genesis

"Because thou hast kept thy temper and hast caused day to lose four hundred zuz (an ancient coin)". Hillel cahiily answered, "Better, my son, that thou

this

But

shouldst lost thy

four hundred zuz than that Hillel should

lose his temper".

At another time while deep in study, Hillel heard a knock door. He opened and found a young, heathen boy "Teach standing there, with an insolent smile on his face.

at

his

me

If you stand on one foot. His purpose was, of course, He had to mock at the Jewish religion and its teachers. already tried the same trick upon Shammai, another famous teacher of the time. And Shammai, not noted for patience, had become very angry and driven the boy away. Of course But instead of becomthis was just what the boy wanted. ing angry, Hillel looked at him kindly for a moment, and

the law", he said, "while

do, then

I

become

will

"What

then answered,

I

a Jew^".

is

hateful unt«

thee

thou shalt not

do unto thy neighbor. This is the whole of Judaism everyWe see from their conduct thing else merely explains it". that both Abraham and Hillel did nothing unto their neigh;

bors which was hateful unto themselves truly

loved

showed just

true

their

this,

neighbors

their

love

greatness.

as



that instead, they

themselves.

Our

religion

our neighbors as ourselves,

Thereby they bids s])eak

us

all

the

do soft

answer which turns away wrath, and makes for peace and Thereby we shall each be doing love and true happiness. our part in fulfilling the mission of Israel, of being a blessing unto

all

the families of the earth.

NOTES The

picture of

Abraham and Lot here

is

one of nomads rather

Their possessions consist of sheep, and probabl}' also of camels. They live in tents, and wander al)out from place to place in search of pasturage and water for their flocks. When these increase to a considerable extent, the pasturage and In consequence their w-ater in a given district liecome insufficient.

than of city dwellers.