Page:Asch-God of vengeance.djvu/46

 a Holy Scroll. He's a Jew, after all. (To Yekel.) You must have reverence for a Scroll of the Law. Great reverence, — precisely as if a noted Rabbi were under your roof. In the house where it resides no profanity must be uttered. It must dwell amidst purity. (Speaks to Sarah, looking toward her but not directly at her.) Wherever a Holy Scroll is sheltered, there no woman must remove the wig from her head. . . (Sarah thrusts her hair more securely under her wig.) Nor must she touch the Scroll with her bare hands. As a reward, no evil overtakes the home that shelters a Scroll. Such a home will always be prosperous and guarded against all misfortune. (To the Scribe.) What do you imagine? — That he doesn't know all this? They're Jews, after all. . . (Sarah nods affirmatively.)

You hear, sir, that the whole world rests upon the Scroll. The fate of our race lies rolled up in that parchment. With one word, — with a single word, God forbid, you can desecrate the Law and bring down upon all the Jews a grievous misfortune, — God forbid.

Rebbi, I'll confess everything. . . Rebbi (Comes nearer to Reb Ali.) I know that you are a holy man. I am not worthy, Rebbi, of your presence in this house. . . under my roof. ..