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Essential Conferences for Summer, 2007 Articles: -Handwork and Intellectual Development -----ADHD: A Challenge of Our Time -The Cry for Myth -Freedom of Choice or Freedom From Choice? -Computers in Education -Helping Your Child's Teacher Communicate
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Judith and Jason / 2 Many years had passed since the Greek army had first entered he gates of Jerusalem. Alexander had long since died, and his many generals had fought among themselves to be ruler of the lands he had conquered, including the land of Israel. It was finally Antiochus, a strong and ambitious Syrian, who became lord over all the Israelites. It was during this troubled time in Jerusalem that, one evening, a young woman named Judith, daughter of Judah the Maccabee, had gone to the well near her family's house to draw some water. A tall and muscular man, dressed in the light clothing of the Greeks, had hitched his graceful horse nearby and was fetching water for the steed. As Judith approached, the stranger gazed at her intently and asked in Hebrew, "Judith, do you remember me?" Judith marveled that a Greek could speak such good Hebrew. She stared at him for some time before crying out, "Joshua! You disappeared fourteen years ago! We thought that you had died!" "But you see that I live!" said Joshua, laughing, "Only now my name is Jason. On the day that I disappeared, you and I had been playing together near your house. It grew late, so you were called in, but I foolishly lingered as night came on. A Syrian merchant seized me, hid me in his baggage and conveyed me outside the city gates. I was carried far from Jerusalem, and sold as a slave." Judith gasped and turned pale, but Joshua, now called Jason, only laughed again. "Fortunately," he continued, "I was sold to a Greek. He was childless, so I was raised as his son. And after these many years I am returning to my former people, to convey an important message." "Your former people?" asked Judith.
"Yes," said Jason, "For the enlightened philosophy of the Greeks proves far more agreeable to me than the inflexible laws of the Israelites. How delightful and natural it is to have many gods who act just like men, rather than one God Who is distant and so often scolding us for our human failings. All the other nations that Alexander conquered have come to see the wisdom of Greek life and religion -‑ why must you Hebrews be so stuck in your ways?"
Jason's voice trailed off when he saw that Judith was sobbing.
"I mourn you more now than I did when you were thought dead," she said. "Yet the laws of hospitality command that I invite you to my house. My father, Judah the Maccabee, is a Temple priest, and you may convey your message to him." They walked silently through the streets together, Jason leading his horse and Judith balancing a jug of water on her head. The soft light of many torches and hearth fires shone through the darkening city. . . . .
To hear the rest of this story, click here to learn more about the audio CD Interfaith Stories for Hanukah and Christmas, a collection of 3 Hanukah tales and 3 Christmas tales told by the author.
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