Satan in Goray

have penetrated the seven firmaments. Go, and proclaim in the ears of those that tremble at the word of God that the perfect and full redemption will come at the new year. And to Reb Gedaliya, that saintly man, thou shalt announce: 'All the worlds on high do tremble at the unions he doth form. The power of his combinations reaches even to the heavenly mansions. From these combinations seraphim and angels twist coronets for the Divine Presence.' "
    All night the voice called to Rechele, without interruption, at times in the holy tongue, at times in Yiddish. The air thickened with smoke and a glowing, ghostly, purple light. Rechele felt the walls sundering, the ceiling dissolving, and the whole house above the clouds. Swooning with fear, she lay with inert limbs: her eyes glazed, her arms and legs distended and wooden like those of a corpse. With the rising of the morning star, at cockcrow, the voice subsided, but Rechele did not stir until sunrise. Only then did she waken and rouse from her swoon. Her ears still rang with the voice, her cheeks were damp with tears, and her body strange and cold, like one returned from the edge of death. Yet she rose from her bed on faltering legs, washed at the full tun, rinsing her breasts and thighs as though performing a ritual.
    Then, dressing in her Sabbath garments, she put on her jewelry, covered her face with a veil, and set out for the prayer-house court. Those who passed her were astonished to see her dressed so. Some thought her in the power of an evil spirit. Others followed her to see what would happen, for they surmised at once that this was no ordinary occasion. No sooner had Rechele crossed the study house threshold than she fell face forward on the earth. Though in the midst of prayer, the worshipers saw Rechele fall, and the Eighteen Benedictions were interrupted. Reb Gedaliya, who was putting away his phylacteries in their silver container, dropped them in consternation. Some men approached the woman, intending to assist her, for they thought this some human affliction. But suddenly a voice issued from Rechele; it resounded from wall to wall: "O Jews! Happy are you, and happy your souls! I have beheld a great light. At midnight the great and awful Angel Sandalfon came to me. He announced wondrous things. At the time of the new year good shall come to us, for the godfearing shall gather in Jerusalem. Be strong and of good cheer, 0 Jews, and proclaim a fast. And as for the saintly man, Reb Gedaliya, the Angel declared: 'The time has come for him to be revealed. For he is a godly man, and worthy, like Elijah, to behold the face of the Divine Presence.' "
    Rechele spoke in fits and starts, as though in her sleep, but so resonant was her voice that its echo could be heard throughout the town, and the people of Goray came running. Shopkeepers deserted their shops, artisans rushed in with sack aprons circling their loins, women left sucklings in their cradles, and flew breathless into the study house. Young men and girls leaped up on tables, hung onto bookshelves, climbed the very walls to see what was happening. Pranksters climbed into the study house through the window, and someone accidentally knocked against the copper candelabrum, and there was a shouting and a furor, for it was in danger of falling and causing disaster. Hearing the news, an old paralyzed woman who sat at her spinning wheel pulled on her dress and ran to look at the prophetess. But so great was the confusion that no one noticed this marvel. Meanwhile, Rechele, with arms and legs extended, still lay there, baring mysteries of mysteries, such as no son of man had ever heard--much less a woman. Calling by name angels and seraphim, she told of the heavenly mansions and the lords ruling in each of them; the cryptic passages in the Book of Daniel so baffling to ordinary minds were explained by her--it was clear to all that the spirit of prophecy had entered into Rechele. Several individuals fainted. A shudder ran through the crowd, for no one in Goray had ever witnessed anything like this, and it was interpreted as a sign that God had taken compassion on his congregation and the end of days was near.
    Reb Gedaliya bent over Rechele, listening to the voice and trembling with fear; his body had to be supported by two strong men, for his legs had failed him, and he shook as with fever. Only when Rechele lay as though dead, did Reb Gedaliya gesture for a prayer shawl to cover her face. Then he bore her in his