Satan in Goray

Reb Itche Mates and his wife Rechele. Reb Gedaliya seated Rechele at his right hand, and he told her of the Messiah's wife, Sarah, who dazzled kings with her loveliness. He informed her in confidence that Sarah had once been an inmate of a brothel in Rome. He addressed Rechele courteously as though she were one of the sect.
    "Rechele," he said, "the angels and seraphim are envious of your noble spirit. The root of your name is Rachel, and Rachel's beauty is yours."
    From that night on there was no end to the rejoicing in Goray.
    Both the first and the second days of Passover each man who went to the dais to recite his blessing of the Torah was required to add a special blessing for Sabbatai Levi, and the cantor chanted: "May He who bringeth aid to His kingdom, bless and guard, assist and exalt, glorify and raise on high, our Master, the holy rabbi and saint in whom we are saved, Sabbatai Levi, the Messiah of the God of Jacob."
    Between the morning and afternoon prayers Reb Gedaliya in his sermon commanded the people of Goray to clear the dogs, cats, and other unclean beasts out of their homes. The afternoon following the feast there was dancing in the courtyard of the prayer house, men and women circling together. Schoolboys leaped like goats and sang: "The white doves preen--The Messiah has been seen!" Powerful men carried the lame Reb Mordecai Joseph on their shoulders; young men whirled this way and that and engaged in all sorts of nonsense. Even gentiles came to watch the Jews amuse themselves. During the intermediate days of the holiday, marriage contracts were written and good-luck plates were broken in every house where there was a girl over eight. Shortly after Passover new tales of Sabbatai Zevi's prowess circulated in Goray.
    It was said the Turks in Stamboul had attempted to rise against Sabbatai Zevi, and he had taken refuge in a fortress set aside for him since the Six Days of Creation, after killing every one of them. He had slaughtered the Passover offering and roasted it in the fat, while Sarah, the Messiah's wife, sat in the Sultan's chair, where she was served by caliphs and pashas. Scholars and holy men had kissed her feet and heard the mysteries of the Torah from her lips. Wearing the crown of King David, Sabbatai Zevi had been surrounded by the Fathers, who had risen from their sepulchers in the Cave of Machpaleh. Every day Sabbatai Zevi journeyed to the seashore to receive the potentates who arrived in sailing vessels from the other side of the River Samation, bringing with them talents of gold and precious stones sent by the king of the Ten Tribes. Fifty knights rode before the Messiah, singers attended him with songs of praise, glorifying the Almighty. The earth was cleft by the sound of their voices....
    The opponents of Sabbatai Zevi were silenced. Some of them now believed in him; others out of fear of persecution said nothing. In the study house the young men pored over the account of the building of the Holy Temple, and those descended from priests studied the offerings and the sprinkling of sacrificial blood on the altar. As soon as night fell, fiery omens appeared in the sky. One night Rechele, looking into her broth, saw seven maidens with golden crowns on their heads and heard the sweet strains of an unearthly melody. Revealing her secret to no one, she immediately set out to tell Reb Gedaliya.
    Reb Gedaliya happened to be all alone in the house. A wax candle burned in a silver candlestick; on the table stood an earthen jug of wine; on a silver platter lay a roast hen. Before Rechele could speak, Reb Gedaliya rose and ran to meet her with outstretched arms, crying: "Welcome, 0 righteous woman, in God's name! Verily, I know all!" And he shut the door behind her.

    5

    Rechele Prophesies

    Midnight of the fourteenth day of the month of Sivan, in early June, Rechele lying in her canopy bed after a penitential fast (Reb Itche Mates had lodged in the study house overnight), heard a sound as of the wind blowing and wings beating. A bright red glow surrounded her; flames seemed to overwhelm the house, and a voice called: "Rechele, Rechele!"
    "Speak, for thy servant hearkeneth," replied Rechele, who had studied the Bible and remembered the tale of the young Samuel and Eli, the priest. "Rechele, be strong and of good cheer! I am the Angel Sandalfon!" an awesome voice said. "For lo, I shall put thy tears into a gourd and bear them up on high to the Throne of Glory. Thy prayers and supplications