The daughters of R. Nahman used to remove the scum of the boiling broth with their bare

hands, and the people thought they were able to do it because of their piety.

R. Elos wondered, saying to himself: "We find it written that a pious man can be found among a thousand, but among all women there is not a single one (cf. Eccl. 7.28), yet we see that the daughters of R. Nahman are pious women."

Once it happened that the daughters of R. Nahman were taken captive by the Cutheans, and among the captives was also R. Elos. There Was another prisoner among them also, who understood all languages, even the language of the birds.

There came a crow, crying Kral Kra! as crows do. Then R. Elos asked: "What does the crow say?"

And the man who understood their language replied: "The crow is speaking to you and says, 'Elos, flee,' which means make your escape, for it will go well with you."

R. Elos, replied: "I will pay no heed, for crows are given to lying."

Then came a dove and began to coo.

Elos asked: "What is the dove saying?"

And the man replied: "The dove also says: 'Elos, flee'."

Then Elos said: "Doves do not tell lies, for the community of Israel is compared to the dove. A miracle will surely happen to me. I wish to see at the same time whether the daughters of R. Nahman, being prisoners in the hands of the heathen, will persevere in their piety. I will tell them that they should also make their escape. Then I will know whether they are pious. If they escape with me, it will be proof of their piety, but if they prefer to remain among the heathen, then unquestionably they are not pious."

R. Elos went to look for them and found them both together in a privy. Then he said to himself: "All women tell each other their secrets in the privy."

Then he overheard them saying to one another: "We do not wish to run away, for our husbands are not with us and if the heathen wish to possess us we will yield even though we have husbands in Palestine. We will say that our husbands are far away and will not redeem us."

When R. Elos heard this, he made his escape together with the man who understood all languages.

R. Elos was lucky and came home in safety across the water. But the other man was caught and put to death. The daughters of R. Nahman also returned and continued to remove the scum from the boiling broth with their bare hands as before. R. Elos concluded therefore that they did it by means of witchcraft.

They had heard indeed of his flight, and R. Elos had heard their conversation in the privy, which showed what sort of modesty they possessed.