Re: Looking to the past for inspiration
Dan McFeeley said:
Here's an example from from Jewish folk lore -- unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the source...(snip))
There are many folk tales about Elijah the Prophet appearing to bless deserving people. The most modern story I've heard has to do with a group of young yeshiva students who succeeded in bribing a train conductor to let them ride out of Poland (and certain death at the hands of the Nazis)on a Hannukkah night; the first night of this eight-day holiday.
Hiding inside the train's baggage car, they were at their wit's end to figure out how to light a candle in honor of the festival. They thought that a coat button, some thread unraveled from the same coat for a wick, and some grease from the train wheels might make a viable improvised candle, but it was a dangerous thing to do, for they if they were seen by any of the other passengers, they would be informed on and sent back to Poland, if not shot right there.
They had decided to risk the danger and had chosen the most agile among them to slip out and collect the grease at the next stop, when to their horror, someone knocked on the door of the baggage car. The knocking persisted, and the door slid open. They waited, convinced it was an inspector about to discover them and hand them over to the Nazis. To their astonishment, a old man with a long white beard stood there with a peddlar's tray hanging on his chest, selling...matches and candles. Without a word, the old man produced his wares, and left at once, still silent.
The boys lit their Hannukkah candle and recited the blessings, convinced that they had been honored by a visit from Elijah the Prophet himself.
Miriam
