In the time of R. Judah the Pious, there lived in Regensburg a gatekeeper who was a very wicked man. When a Jew died, the body had to be carried through that gate. And as it was being carried, he showed his malice by tolling the bell. When R. Judah, the Pious, became ill and was about to die, he sent for the Jews of the community and said to them: "Dear friends, here I lie in the power of God and am about to die. I will give you a sign whereby you will know that I shall have a share in the world to come. The sign is this. When you carry my body to the gate over which that wicked man is living, he will begin to toll the bell, as usual. Directly the gate will fall down and you will not be able to carry me out that way. When that happens, you will know that I shall enter paradise."

When the pious man died and they proceeded to carry the body through the gate, the wicked porter became aware of it and began tolling the bell. Immediately the gate fell in, killing the gatekeeper, and they could not carry the body through.

If you do not believe this story go to Regensburg and you will see for yourself, and will hear why the gate cannot be rebuilt. It has been rebuilt many times; but no sooner was it erected than it fell down again and would not stand.