Besides his literary gifts, Mr. Isaacs possessed considerable gifts and talents in art and in music, being a keen judge of both. He had some knowledge of colloquial French, Italian, and German, and not long before his death gave a short address in German at a mission hall on "I am the way, the truth and the life," which was listened to with marked attention. He had promised to give a second address on the Wednesday which followed his death.
Mr. Isaacs was a man of keen intellect, marked ability, deeply taught by the Spirit of God, and a faithful servant of Christ during his long ministerial career of fifty-three years. His Jewish descent, his acquaintance with the language and customs of the Jews, his sympathy with them and zeal for their conversion made him a strong and an acceptable advocate in the cause of Jewish missions. He was a Life Member of the L.J.S., and frequently attended the meetings of the Committee, where his long and varied experience, and prudent counsels were fully appreciated.
It will be easily gathered from the above that Mr. Isaacs' life was extremely rich in incident and experience. He was blessed with wonderful strength and health, which he attributed greatly to total abstinence from alcohol and smoking, and enjoyed the friendship of many prominent people, amongst whom may be mentioned Prince Münster.
Mr. Isaacs in his own person was a proof of the success of Jewish evangelization, and of its far-reaching consequences, and we would close this brief biography of our departed friend with the last words from his "Star of Peace": —
"When Isaac Da Costa arranged for the baptism of his children he was, in the providence of God, opening the floodgates of blessing for himself and family. The consequences were to be widespread as well as important. Up to that time, not one of his family in any of its branches had ever been brought out of Judaism into the full revelation in Christ of the Law and the Prophets. But when he closed his eyes, he left behind him the record of every member of his family but one, both on his own and on his wife's side, having embraced the Christian faith, and thus set their seal to the truth and inspiration of God's Holy Word."
Jacob, John, a Jew from Poland, was baptized in England, in the seventeenth century. In 1679 he wrote a tract under the title, "The Jew turned Christian, or The Corner Stone," which was translated into Dutch and published in Amsterdam, under the title, "Jesus de waare Hoeckstein." In this he magnifies the grace of God as manifested in and through Christ Jesus, by which alone fallen man can find acceptance in God's sight and realize perfect peace and salvation.
Jacobi, B. T., was born in Königsberg, 1807. His father went to England, and became a Christian there. During his absence his wife, not knowing at all about her husband's religious change, embraced Christianity, and was baptized with her four children. Jacobi studied theology, and was appointed Chaplain, at the George Hospital, Königsberg, having also the pastoral charge of the Workhouse, and giving religious instruction in a High School. From 1858 he was also acting as missionary of the British Society, and quite a number of Jews of the higher class were won by him for the Saviour. He was permitted to celebrate his ministerial Jubilee in 1877.
Jacobi, Karl Gustav Jakob, born at Potsdam, 1804, died at Berlin, 1851. He was a distinguished Professor of Mathematics at the University of Königsberg and Berlin from 1825, and, together with Abel, made his epoch-making discoveries in the field of elliptic functions. Most of Jacobi's papers were published in Crelle's Journal, "Für die Reine und Angewardte Mathematik," and in the "Monatsberichte" of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, of which he became a member in 1836. Of his independent works may be mentioned: "Fundamenta Novæ Theoriæ Functiones Ellipticorum," Königsberg, 1829; and "Canon Arithmeticus," Berlin, 1839. Jacobi's lectures on dynamics were published in Berlin in 1866 and 1884. The Berlin Academy of Sciences published his "Gesammelte Werke," 8 vols., 1881-91.
Jacobi, Heinrich Otto, born at Tutz, West Prussia, and educated in a Jewish school in Berlin. He was baptized by Pastor Hossbach. After teaching in several schools, he became Professor of Greek Philology at the Fried. Wilh. Gymnasium of Berlin in 1860. He wrote several treatises in the Greek language, and received the degree of D.Ph. from the University of Königsberg, even without passing an examination. He died in 1864.
Jacobsohn, S. S., born in German Ostrowo, 1810. He went to Berlin and studied painting in the Academy of Arts. After being an earnest enquirer for a year, he was baptized by Pastor Kunze in 1831. Two years later he entered the service of the Berlin Jewish Society, and laboured among the Jews until 1871, with great patience and love toward them, so that many acknowledged that he was a true Christian. He published a tract entitled, "Immanuel, die Erscheinung des Messias in Knechtsgestalt, seine Erlösungsthätigkeit und die Ausbreitung seines Reiches nach Jesaia" (Berlin).
Jacobson, Heinrich Friedrich, born in Morenwerder, 1804, died in 1868, as a true pious Christian, lamented by all who knew him. He became Ordinary Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Königsberg in 1836. He was author, among other works, of "Geschichte der Quellen des Katholischen Kirchenrechts der Provinzen Preusen und Posen," (1839); likewise "Geschichte der Quellen des evangelischen Kirchenrechts," of the same provinces, (1844). His chief work was, "Das Evangelische Kirchenrecht des Preusischen Staates und seiner Provinzen," (Halle, 1862-66).
Jacobson, Jacob, was born at Goldingen, in the province of Courland, Russia. He tells his own story thus: —
"My parents early taught me to value the precepts, rites, and ordinances of Judaism, which they most rigidly observed. They therefore early placed me under the care of a Talmudical tutor, to be instructed in the Jewish faith, which consisted in the religious observances established by the authority of the Rabbis, and the promised reward to those who adhere to them.
"As I grew older, and began to reflect upon the nature and principles of Judaism as practised in the synagogue, my understanding showed me that such formal worship could not be in accordance with the will of God, that something or other was deficient in the system, there being nothing solid to influence the heart and give vitality to the worshipper. I could not help experiencing at times something like a vagueness in my mind with regard to my religious perceptions.
"By the providence of God I was led to leave home; and, although it was contrary to the wishes of my parents, I set out on my journey, and in due course arrived in England, in the City of London. After my sojourn there for some time, I was incidentally brought into contact, for the first time in my life, with one of those messengers who are sent out by the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews, whose work is to disseminate the Word of Life. It was by him that the Gospel was, in the first instance, proclaimed in my ears. Though some impression was made on my mind in consequence of his preaching, I nevertheless resisted it, on account of the deep-rooted prejudice I had imbibed against the Christian religion, and I refused his kind invitation to go to his house.
"God, who guides the destiny of men in a most marvellous way did, by His gracious design, cause me again to meet the same missionary, who once more entreated me to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and to search into the truth of the Christian religion. As on the former occasion, I again resisted with increased strength, and again declined his kind invitation. Still, the impression which was left on my mind on this second occasion, led me to reflect upon the question at issue between Jews and Christians, and whether this Jesus, whom our forefathers had rejected, was the same who should redeem Israel. Thus I was for some time perplexed and undecided, and in my perplexity I at length resolved that I would go to the missionary's house, not with any desire to be converted, but simply for further information.
"I thus became directed to read the Word of God, in order to verify the predictions which refer to the Messiah, and their fulfilment in the Person of Jesus Christ. I then began to read the New Testament, and to compare this with the Old, and, in course of time, the doing so terminated in my conviction that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, who gave Himself a sacrifice for sin, and was cut off but not for Himself. After some inward struggle of mind, my agitated feelings may be better conceived than described, and in spite of all hindrances that presented themselves, I was enabled, by the grace of God and the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit to decide for Christ, and He became my Lord and Saviour. I avowed myself by public baptism a believer in the Triune God.
"After some years of Christian life, I was called to the service of God, in making known the same Saviour and the same Gospel I had received to our benighted Jewish brethren, and, by the grace of God, I have been engaged in so doing for fifteen years, in Newcastle and the district. The Lord has graciously blessed my humble efforts, and unto Him I ascribe the glory."
Jacoby, Dr. Ludwig, was the founder of German Methodism at St. Louis, Mi., U.S.A., and helped to spread it in Germany, in the latter half of the 19th century. His biography is found in the Rev. Fr. Kopp's characteristic pictures from the history of Methodism.
Jacoby, Rev., was one of Dr. McCaul's converts in Warsaw, and missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the Jews in New York. He became later on an earnest Army Chaplain in a small-pox hospital during the Civil War, in Washington, 1864.
Jaffe, Philipp, M.D. and historian, born at Schwersenz, Posen, 1819, studied under Ranke in Berlin, where he won the history prize. He published "Monumenta Germaniæ Historica," 1854-63; "Bibliotheca rerum Germanicarum," 1864; "Regesta pontificum Rom. a Condita Ecclesia ad Annum post Chr. 1198"; in which work no less than 11,000 papal documents and letters were investigated, and in consequence received the attention of Pius IX. These ecclesiastical studies led him finally to embrace Christianity in 1868.
Jaffe, Philipp, son of Rabbi Baer of Gnesen, Posen, was born in 1824. Naturally he was brought up in strict orthodoxy and early imbibed prejudices against Christianity, so that when reading a book in the school he refused to utter the name of Jesus. His father sent him later to Wales to learn commerce at the house of a relative. Then a Christian lady gave him a New Testament which he secretly read, and that became the means of his conversion. He studied in London, and at the age of twenty-six he was ordained in the presence of the then Secretary of the British Society, whose service he afterwards entered and laboured as a missionary in Bristol and in Birmingham; and then from 1853 till 1857 at Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Nüremberg and Hamburg. He was instrumental in the conversion of a number of Jews, among whom was a Jewess 83 years of age, and also in the conversion of a Roman Catholic priest.
Jair and Jan, Dr. Aga, two Persian Jews, the latter of whom especially was under the influence of the C.M.S. missionary, the Rev. Dr. Bruce. They were baptized by the Armenian Protestant pastor in Hamadan in 1878.
Janasz, Adolf, proprietor of an estate at Ploch, near Warsaw, having together with his father embraced Christianity, and then afterwards married the daughter of the L.J.S. missionary Rosenthal, henceforth devoted himself to good works and especially to promote Christianity among the Jews by word and deed. In 1863, after the Polish revolution, he founded an orphanage on his estate, which he maintained at his own expense. He also appointed a Bible-woman in Warsaw to visit the Jews, and always showed sympathy and rendered practical help to the missionaries, and sent from time to time considerable contributions to the L.J.S. He published a little excellent work in German, entitled "Die Zukunft des Volkes Israel," Berlin, 1882.
Jany, a Jewish officer who served in the Prussian army from 1806 to 1815, afterwards embraced Christianity, and then devoted himself especially, till the age of 90, to the care of the deaf and dumb, and was one of the presidents of the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Königsberg.
Jasu, was one of the three Falasha converts who carried on the work of the mission during the imprisonment of the missionaries in Abyssinia.
Jedida, Hirsch Leib, Smlinsky, born in Gragewo, Russia, 1847. After being strictly brought up and becoming Bar Mitzvah (confirmed) at the age of 13, he studied at several rabbinic schools for five years, and at last at Plotzk, where he formed a firm friendship with another Bachur (student), by the name of Samuel Nasielsky, a native of Warsaw. They both thirsted for knowledge and studied diligently. The other had one day to return home, on account of the illness of his mother, and Hirsch soon followed him. In Warsaw they came in contact with the missionary Ifland, who showed them another source of knowledge besides the Talmud, and which alone could satisfy not only their minds but also their souls. Having read the New Testament, they were convinced that Jesus was their Saviour. They resolved now to go to Germany together. Before doing so they met with a monk, who tried to win them for the Church of Rome and as they were not able to answer all his objections to Protestantism, the result was, that they read the New Testament more diligently and earnestly. Hirsch was further instructed by Ifland, and was baptized in the Reformed Church at Warsaw, by Superintendent Splasczynsky in 1864, when he received the name of Jedida (beloved of the Lord). His fervent prayer before his baptism is recorded, but it is too long to reproduce here. His friend, who had hitherto been hindered by his family, now joined him, and they travelled together to Bromberg, where they were welcomed by the missionary Koppel into his home at Salem. His parents came to fetch him home, but he returned. Here Samuel was also further instructed, but as Jedida got ill, he was sent to the Hospital Bethany at Berlin, and he followed him there, where he was baptized in 1866, and received the name of Luria, and very often visited his sick friend, to whom he was attached, like David to Jonathan. But Jedida's earthly pilgrimage now drew to a close, yet, before his departure, he composed a Hebrew prayer as follows: – "O Lord! watch over my bed when my end draws near and my soul departeth. Stretch Thou forth Thy hands to receive and to bring it into Thy habitations. Place me among the heirs of Thy kingdom. Satisfy me with Thy comfort and salvation. Make me to rejoice in the light of Thy countenance, that I may ever live with Thee. Amen." The Lord answered his prayer and gave him grace and strength to endure excruciating bodily pains calmly and resignedly, and took him to Himself in September, 1867. His friend followed him three years later and was buried at his side.
Jertes, Dr., known to the Rev. F. W. Becker, laboured with great blessing as a missionary at Frankfort-on-Main in 1838.
Jesaia, Paul, an educated Jew of Prague, after showing an inclination towards Christianity at home, went to London on business about the middle of the seventeenth century, where he came in contact with true Christians. The Jews being then few in number in the city, intercourse between them and Christians frequently took place on very friendly terms. In Bohemia there arose a false Messiah who deceived the people. On his way to London, a Jesuit at Antwerp tried to convert him to Roman Catholicism. All this contributed to his searching for the truth, and when he found it in the English Church, he at once joined it by baptism. Then he wrote a treatise under the title, "A Vindication of the Christian's Messiah," London, 1654. (Wolff, Bib. Heb. 4. N. 1811. d.)
Joachim, Joseph, born in Kittsee, Hungary, 1831, is known to have embraced Christianity. He became a famous musician on the violin, and founded a high school for music at Berlin in 1867.
Joachimsthal, born in Goldberg, 1818, was baptized by Pastor Schultz in Berlin, 1842. He became eventually Professor of Mathematics in Berlin and in Halle. He died in 1861.
John, Evangelist, was one of those Jews baptized at Constantinople about 1827-8, in the time of Wolff, when they were put in prison and bastinadoed.
Jolberg, Madam Regine Julie (née Zimmerman), was born at Frankfort-on-Main in 1801. Her father was a wealthy man, and sent her at the age of thirteen to a Christian school at Heidelberg, where she received good impressions. In 1821 she married a Jewish lawyer, named Dr. Neustetel, and they settled at Hanau. There the seed sown in her heart at school began to spring forth, her husband too was influenced by her and by an evangelical pastor who visited him in his sickness, and he wished to be baptized, but died before he could realise his wish. She gave him a Christian burial. Subsequently, in 1826, she was baptized with her children, and married her former teacher, S. Jolberg. Her second husband died three years later, and soon after the children she had by him. Then she went to the village of Berg, near Stuttgart, in 1831, with the two children of her first husband, and there her Christian faith was strengthened and deepened by the circle of Christian friends around her. In 1841 she took a house at Leutsheim, where she instructed children in knitting. This school became later an asylum for poor children. This was four years after enlarged to admit a branch for the education of teachers. Six years later, in 1851, she hired a small castle in Nonnenwier, with garden and woods, from Baron Bücklin, because she had already eighty nurses under her instruction and supervision. This institution prospered and became well known, so that her example was followed in different parts of Germany and other countries. After 25 years labour there were 300 Nonnenwier sisters in Germany and abroad, and 260 nurses for children. She became known in Germany as Mutter Jolberg, and rightly so, for indeed she was a mother in Israel.
Josef, an artist, was baptized in Stockholm, 1832, through the preaching of the L.J.S. missionary Moritz.
Joseph, H. S., was precentor in the synagogue at Bedford, where he heard the Gospel. In 1829 he resigned his office and went to Norwich, where he was baptized by the Rev. Samuel Titlow. He wrote afterwards: "Reasons for Renouncing Judaism and Embracing Christianity," Norwich, 1830. He studied theology and was ordained in 1836 as minister or curate of St. Simon's Chapel, Liverpool. With the permission of the Bishop of Chester he established a Hebrew service. It may be mentioned, too, that on the day of his ordination in Liverpool, six Jewish souls were baptized by the Rev. H. Stewart, viz., Theodor Bernstein, and Joshua George Lazarus with his wife and three children, and twelve others that year. In 1837 Joseph became connected with L.J.S., from whom he received a grant. He was the first, as far as we know, to open a home for enquirers, of which he had the charge for many years.
Josephson, Cornelius, was Flad's companion in the Gospel in Abyssinia.
Josephson, Karl and Ludwig, two brothers, who were converted in Westphalia in the first half of the nineteenth century, and have given to the Church in Germany quite a number of theologians and pastors.
Josephson, Van Reis, born at Stockholm in 1818, became a Christian whilst at school. He then studied at the University of Upsala, and graduated in 1842. Then he applied himself entirely to music, and became Director of Music at the University. His compositions were popular in the north, such as: "Vart land," "Rings Drapa," "Islossning." His church compositions have made him famous, e.g., his "Kyrie," and his "Quando Corpus."
Joshua, was colporteur in Syria and in Asia Minor about 1860.
Julius, Henrietta, sister of the physician Nicol Heinrich Julius, attended the Church of Dr. Routenberg in Hamburg, which caused her to embrace Christianity, and was baptized in 1820. Her brother became a Romanist, but lived with her in harmony. She wrote a German biography of Elizabeth Fry.
Kahn, David Isaac, a physician at Uhlefeld, called afterwards "Christfreund," received Christian literature from the Mission at Halle, and this alone was the cause of his and his whole family embracing Christianity at Cadolzburg in 1739. The eldest son who still hesitated, was baptized afterwards.
Kahn, Rev. J., L.J.S. convert, graduated at Cambridge. After being curate in various parishes and then Vicar of Bishopstone, Sussex, he became Vicar of St. Stephen's, Holloway, in 1884.
Kalkar, Christian Andreas Herman, born November 27th, 1802, at Stockholm, died at Gladsaxe, February 3rd, 1886. He received his early education from his father, who was a rabbi and a member of the consistorium, and at the schools of Copenhagen, where, in 1818, he became a student of law. In 1823 he embraced the evangelical faith and studied theology, passing his examination in 1826. After being teacher at Oldensee, from 1827 to 1841, he travelled in Spain, and was appointed minister at Gladsaxe and Herloi in 1844. Among Kalkar's many works may be mentioned – "Evangelische Missionsgeschichte," 1857; "Geschichte der Römisch-Katholischen Mission," 1862 (German translation, Erlangen, 1869); "Geschichte der Christlichen Mission unter den Heiden," 1877 (German translation, Gütersloh, 1879); "Die Mission unter den Juden," 1868 (German translation, Hamburg, 1869); "Israel og Kerken," Copenhagen, 1881. From 1871 to 1880 Kalkar was editor of the "Theologisk Tidskrift."
Kaloria, Rev. John B., a native of Jerusalem when he for the first time heard the Gospel from the L.J.S. missionaries. After his conversion he studied at Basel, and was then sent out to Uruguay as pastor and teacher in a German Colony there. About 1887, he assisted Mr. Eppstein in London, and then went to the United States, where he became engaged in Ministerial work, contributing valuable articles to the Jewish Missionary periodical at New York, "The People, the Land and the Book."
Kameras, Rev. Nathanael, missionary in Vienna, of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews. The following is an abridged extract from his autobiography: —
"On the road leading from Russian Lithuania to Russian Poland there stands a large and lonely inn. It was there that I first saw the light of day in the year 1862. A clay-floored entrance divides the rooms of this extensive house into two rows; on one side are the rooms for the strangers, who lodge here over night, the large tap-room, and the small rooms belonging to my parents; on the other, a one-windowed chamber, where our teacher slept, and the hall, a pretty large room, set apart for prayer and study. It contained long narrow tables and forms, an ornamented cupboard on the eastern side, in which the Thora-rollen (law scrolls) were kept, a prayer-desk with a seven-branched brass candelabra and a hanging lamp. The male members of our family, and Jews from the neighbouring villages, assembled there for Divine Service, to which the women listened in an adjoining room. There, too, our teacher instructed my four brothers and myself in the Hebrew language, and in the Talmud. As soon as I was five years of age, my parents, wrapping me up in a Tallith (prayer-mantle), solemnly brought me in there, in order that I might receive the necessary instruction; so that from that moment I devoted myself exclusively to study. Every other occupation, every other employment, every recreation, game, or fun of childhood, all that makes the heart light and the body strong, was banished from my life. I felt like a bird imprisoned in a cage, and debarred the free movement of its limbs; outside, was the world in all its beauty, where numbers of joyous creatures were flying about in the full enjoyment of their individual freedom, whilst I, powerless, clung to the bars. Before my eyes lay a landscape, rich in rural splendour; as far as I could see, village after village, surrounded by fruit-laden trees, presented a most cheerful aspect, and from the window I could watch the Christian children at their play, enjoying the fresh air of freedom in the flowering fields and sprouting meadows. Amidst the songs of birds, the rustling of leaves and the roar of the forest, I caught the sound of happy human voices, whilst I, chained to my books all day and until late at night, was forced to pore over marriage contracts and divorces and other similar things, which would have been better kept from my childish reason. 'Oh, if I were only that poor farm-servant coming home from the fields with the tired horses, or that ragged boy driving his cows home!' Thus I sighed. But all my longings and wishings were useless; I had to go over the same tiresome road that all the Jewish children of orthodox parents must labour through. The master behind me, drove me on with a volume in one hand and the rod in the other; my father drove me, my relations drove me, and thus, without rest or quiet, I was hurried through all those voluminous works that are of no value for practical existence whatever, so that the years of my childhood passed by, joyless and unenjoyed.
"This Jewish elementary school, called Cheder, seemed to me just like a prison, and the teacher, who bore the title of Melamed, I looked upon as a jailer, so that when the news reached me of my parents' resolve to send me to a Yeschiva, I welcomed it with the same joy with which a convict welcomes his acquittal after long and hard imprisonment.
"It was not difficult to find a suitable Talmud school for me. The son-in-law of our district Rabbi was Rosh-Yeshiva (professor at a Talmud college) in a town where an uncle of mine lived. Thither my parents sent me shortly after I had been confirmed (Bar mitzvah), that is to say, when I had completed my thirteenth year. There, in his private lodgings, I visited Rabbi Schimele Wolf, for so the Talmud lecturer was called, and begged him to accept me as a pupil. At first he received me very coldly, and with dignity that involuntarily pointed to the importance of his position, but after I had delivered the recommendations I brought from his father-in-law, and had told him that his family doctor was my uncle, the stern look in his coal-black, thoughtful eyes, that shone like two glowing specks out of his pale face, fringed by a black beard, relaxed, and with extreme friendliness, he dispensed with the usual examination on entrance, and ordered his servant to lead me to the Yeshiva, and assign me a place there. We were still at a considerable distance from our destination when a great noise of human voices broke on my ear, and when at last I entered the hall, in which the Yeshiva was held, I was quite stunned by the terrific noise that was being made there. More than a hundred boys, youths of about thirteen to twenty years of age, were assembled, each one screaming and moving about in unrestrained restlessness. Some of them were sitting round long, narrow tables, continually swaying the upper part of their bodies backwards and forwards or from side to side. Others were standing in front of small portable desks, leaning over them or swaying to and fro with them, or going round and round them. Each boy had a ponderous volume open before him, from which he chose a passage, that he quoted at the top of his voice. One roared like a lion, 'Omar Rabbi Akiwa (Rabbi Akiwa said) sa…id, sa…id ..Ra…bbi…A...ki…wa… oi Mamuni (Oh Mammy) Rabbi, oi Tatutim, (Oh Daddy) Akiwa, oi Ribene schel olam (Oh Lord of the World) said; said Rabbi Akiwa; what did Rabbi Akiwa say? A …ki…wa…sa…id…' and so on for hours. Another sang very daintily, imitating the voice of the chanter in sad and joyful melodies, such as had remained in his memory from the various festivals, or he composed something at will, with the following words; 'According to the doctrine of Samai it is permitted to eat an egg that has been laid on a holiday on that same day, whereas according to the doctrine of Hillel, it is forbidden.' My arrival attracted their attention and had a subduing effect; there was a lull. Suddenly a voice cried: 'The Massgiach (overseer) is coming.' This was uttered in the same sing-song manner, as though the boy were studying some sentence out of the Talmud. It was repeated by a second, then a third and a fourth in the same manner, and was the signal for them all of one accord to begin their lamentations and singing afresh, with increased vigour, endeavouring to drown each other's voices. It is in this way that these pale boys and youths prepare for the 'Schir' (lecture), which lasts from two to four o'clock in the afternoon, taking place daily, and being carried out in the following manner: – The scholars stood round in a semi-circle at the feet of the Rabbi, who sat on an elevated chair at a desk. Charging one pupil to read a certain passage out of the Talmud, he desired another to read the commentaries to it, and again a third to read and explain the marginal notes to those commentaries.
"In the quiet cloisters of a large town I met a lonely man, living one day like another, a quiet and edifying life, to whom I felt particularly attracted. His head was a real study; a long white beard covered his breast, and he had a high, broad forehead, a finely arched nose, and large blue eyes, in which a whole world of goodness lay; over his features there was an expression of touching humility, as though he would excuse himself to everyone for daring to breathe the air and to fill a space in the universe. Hoping that with him I should not fare badly, I settled down there, and indeed, I did not regret it. From the beginning he showed me his goodwill in unlimited measure, taking care that I should receive free board from the prayer-men, who assembled there three times a day, and in such wise that I boarded with a different one each day in the week; besides which he contrived to give me ample pocket-money. I was often allowed to substitute him in reading 'Mischnais for anniversaries' (extracts from the Talmud to be read for the departed souls on the respective days of their death, which the relations generally remunerate well). He took me with him wherever he was called to sing psalms or say prayers, either at the cradle of a new-born child that had scarcely opened its eyes to the light, or at the bedside of the dying, closing them to the light, to a wedding-feast or to a death-watch, and everywhere money poured in. Thus we lived together day and night in a neighbourly, friendly manner in the cloisters, and nothing lay further in the recluse's thoughts than that he should rob me of my peace of mind, which, however, he did without wishing to do so. His fervent prayers for the redemption of the people of Israel it was that had such a striking effect on my mind. Years will not efface from my memory the sight of that old man at midnight, when all around was quiet, and he thought himself unobserved, taking off his shoes and seating himself on the floor, imploring the Lord in heartfelt sincerity, in His mercy to return to Jerusalem and reign there as He had prophesied. I still hear those heart-rending tones, in which he prayed; 'Stretch out Thy right hand, Oh God! and in mercy redeem the people of Israel. Oh, that it might soon be announced to the unhappy nation: "Your Redeemer has come to Zion!"' Every sentence was accompanied by a sigh or broken by a sob. He imagined me to be asleep, but I heard every word, and was often moved to tears, involuntarily beginning myself to pray eagerly and perseveringly that the Messiah might soon come and release His people from captivity. From henceforth I devoted much thought to the subject, and, in my childish fancy, pictured to myself how glorious it would be when the Messiah would come, and, as a child rejoices to greet its father from afar, I looked forward, daily and hourly, to the advent of the Redeemer of Israel. On the other hand, the question often worried me; Why does not God answer such real and fervent prayers? Why does not the Messiah come to release His people? I did not dare to speak to Rabbi Todresch, such was the name of the recluse, on the subject, but once when a Talmudist from some well-known Talmud school came back to his home in the cloisters, I told him what it was that troubled me so much, and my astonishment was indeed great when I heard his answer: 'Prayers such as those will and can never be answered; for the Messiah has come.' In vain did I beg him to explain it to me, but he purposely avoided all my questions, telling me only so much that he possessed a book which explained the question thoroughly, but which he could not entrust to me for fear of the consequences such a step might have for himself; besides, it would be of no use to me, as I should have to give up my present career entirely. 'If you want to know the full truth,' he said to me, 'you must go abroad, for only there can you search after the truth freely and independently; whereas here, you must sell your freedom for your bread.' Tortured by restlessness, despair and longing, and fearful lest my parents should get ear of the change in my heart, when they would certainly oppose my plans, I decided to follow his advice at once and to leave Russia.