Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/34

30 woman who had formerly been his wife, but was then divorced from him. Now, as the traditional law interdicted every familiar intercourse between the parties after a separation had once taken place, the people foolishly imagined that such interdiction extended even to acts of charity; and, with ignorant, but vehement zeal, exclaimed, "Rabbi! Rabbi! what, do we sit idle spectators, and here is a great sin committed?" They then told him what they had observed. The good Rabbi, who wished to remove so destructive a prejudice from their minds, called the supposed offender before him, and questioned him about his motive. "Master," said the charitable Israelite, "it is true, I gave this poor woman some money. I saw her great distress, and my heart was filled with compassion." The virtuous Rabbi not only did not blame this action, but greatly admired it; and in order to impress on the minds of his hearers that true charity knows no limits, no bounds, no distinction, took care to incorporate this very deed in a prayer which he addressed to the Almighty:— "Lord of all worlds," exclaimed the pious Rabbi, "if the distress of this woman, who had no claim on the bounty of him that relieved her, excited his compassion, we, who are the works of thine own hands, the children of thy dearly beloved Abraham, Isaac, and