Satan in Goray

his clothes, and immersed himself in the water. So as not to lose the small break in the ice, he held on to a rope. After immersion he did not cover his frozen body immediately; instead, he rolled in the snow, recounting his transgressions. He went so far as to beg forgiveness for the pain he had given his mother when he lay in her womb.... Rabbi Benish called him a "foolish zealot."
    The old rabbi's melancholy mood would not leave him. Ever since the Sabbatai Zevi sect had gained in strength in Goray, he had begun to shout at the members of his household, and had become brusque with the women who asked him ritual questions. He stopped greeting visitors with "God bless your coming," and avoided prayers with the quorum. His body stooped as under a heavy load, and he would nap during the day; this was unusual for him. Waking his household in the middle of the night, he would demand to have his bed fixed because his body ached and he was sleepless. With nightfall he ordered the shutters barred. He wrote many letters that he did not send, and they were scattered over the table and the floor. No matter how often his dinner was brought to him from the kitchen, he would let it grow cold, until finally it had to be carried off, still untouched. He no longer reviewed the daily lesson with his students, and, as in times of famine or epidemic, he ordered his bed removed from the bedroom. His face yellowed and grew wrinkled, and old age overtook him all at once. Once he sat up all night composing a will, which he burnt in the oven at dawn. _Another time, calling in ten of his company, he made a declaration to the effect that he remained true to his faith, and that any statement to the contrary that he should make before his death should be regarded as lacking truth and validity. He also wrote this declaration on parchment with his goose quill, and ordered the wit-nesses to sign their names to it. For many days after-ward the town was full of whispering about this event, for people did not understand the meaning of it. Finally, in the Book of the Ford of the Jabbok, they found a passage explaining that Samael comes to every dying man with a drawn sword in his hand, and incites him to deny God; hence, it is best to void any such blasphemy in advance. From this they drew the conclusion that Rabbi Benish was preparing for his end.
    Meanwhile, amazing things were taking place in Goray.
    It was reported that Mordecai Joseph, the cabalist, was kneading a clay golem in the study house attic, that he might come to the help of the Jews at the birthpangs of the Messiah. Someone saw Mordecai Joseph and a boy haul a sack of clay up the stairs. Of Reb Itche Mates it was said that he experienced an ascent of the soul every night, and that Rabbi Isaac Luria, the holy man, came and revealed the secrets of the cabala to him. Since Reb Itche Mates' arrival in Goray, the Jews of that town had set their hearts on returning to God. The men arose before daybreak to recite psalms, the women fasted Mondays and Thursdays and sent pots of food to the poorhouse. One married woman rapped on the prayer stand one Sabbath and confessed that she had lain with her husband during the days of her impurity. Young newlyweds did not visit their wives on the nights they immersed themselves in the bathhouse. A few select persons gathered every night at Reb Godel Chasid's house, and Reb Itche Mates bared the mysteries of the Torah for them.
    On the night of the seventeenth day of Tebet, Rechele was betrothed to Reb Itche Mates; the betrothal feast took place in the upper floor of Rechele's house. Benches and tables were set about the room, one section for the men and another section for the women. At the last moment Rechele changed her mind and fell to weeping that she did not want Itche Mates. But she was mollified with sweet talk and gifts until finally she consented again. Now she sat crowded in among the women, wearing a silk dress, a kerchief on her forehead, and a strand of beads that belonged to Chinkele. Her face was pale, and wry, her large brilliant eyes were full of tears-. To divert the bride and raise her spirits, the women enthusiastically praised her beauty, stroked her hair, and quickened her with spoonfuls of moldy citrus preserve. Reb Itche Mates, in a silk kaftan, sat surrounded by his followers at the men's table. The oven was stoked, so that the walls sweated, and the tall candles in the earthen candlesticks melted so fast that the wicks needed