Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/95

 him: yea, though he be a stranger or a sojourner; that he may live with thee."—Levit. xxv. 35. This is the highest step and the summit of charity's Golden Ladder.

Maimonides, Yad ha-Hazakah, Mattenot 'Aniyyim, X, 7-13; cf. Kohler, "Jewish Encyclopedia," III, 670a.

Rabbi Simeon and the Jewels

, the son of Shetah, once bought a camel of an Ishmaelite: his disciples took it home; and, on removing the saddle, discovered a band of diamonds concealed under it. "Rabbi! Rabbi!" exclaimed they, "the blessing of God maketh rich," intimating that it was a Godsend. "Take the diamonds back to the man of whom I purchased the animal," said the virtuous Rabbi: "he sold me a camel—not precious stones." The diamonds were accordingly returned, to the no small surprise of the proper owner: but the Rabbi preserved the much more valuable jewels— and.

Yerushalmi, Baba Mezi'a II, 5; Deuteronomy Rabba, § III.