an was happy, because he no longer
had to fear for the safety of the precious jewel. Even so, dear
master, thou shouldst rejoice when thou hast given thy son to God, who
trusted thee with him, since thou hast returned him in his innocence
as thou didst first receive him."

"My son," said the master, "thou hast truly comforted me."

When Rabbi Jochanan was nigh to death, his colleagues and disciples
gathered round him in sorrow and trembling.

"Master, Light of Israel!" they exclaimed. "Why weepest thou?"

And the master answered: "If they were about to lead me before a king
of flesh and blood, who today is and tomorrow is in the grave--if he
were wroth with me, his wrath were not eternal; if he should put me in
chains, his chains were not eternal; if he should put me to death,
that death would not be eternal; I might appease him with words or
bribe him with gifts. But now they are about to lead me before the
King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, who lives and remains
through all eternity. If He is wroth with me, His wrath is eternal; if
He casts me into chains, His chains are eternal; if He puts me to
death, it is eternal death; Him no words can appease, no gifts soften.
And further, there are two ways--one to hell, one to Paradise; and I
know not which way they will lead me. Is there not cause for tears?"

Asked to give his disciples a last blessing, he told them:

"Fear God even as ye fear men."

His disciples seemed disappointed, whereupon he added:

"He who would commit a sin first looks around to discover whether any
man sees him; so take ye heed that God's all seeing eye see not the
sinful thought in your heart."

His death occurred only a few years after the destruction of the
Temple. But in that short time he saved Judaism, and the impress he
left upon Israel is evident from the famous dictum of the Talmud:
"With the death of Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai the light of wisdom was
quenched." And many still believe that none like him--scholar and
diplomat--has since arisen in Israel.

[Illustration: Signature: Abraham M. Simon]

EDITORS' NOTE.--_The first sketch in this series on
Jewish Worthies, Dr. Moses Hyamson's study of
"Golden-Rule Hillel," appeared in our April number.
The third in the series will be on Rabbi Akiba._

Zionism: A Menorah Prize Essay

BY MARVIN M. LOWENTHAL

(_Concluded_)

[Sidenote: _This Essay was awarded the Menorah Prize at the