In the days of R. Judah, the Pious, there was a governor in Salzburg who was a very wicked man.

One day he said to his counselors, "I have heard that in Regensburg there lives a distinguished Jew, who is reputed to have knowledge and is highly respected by Jews and Christians. I cannot allow that a Jew shall have so much influence. I am going to Regensburg and will undertake to kill him with my own hand. I will not give anyone else the privilege, for the people believe him to be a holy man and say he can answer any question he is asked. He is also said to be a prophet. It is not right that such a Jew should be allowed to live and to have so much power. Therefore, my dear servants, be

prepared whenever I call on you, for I cannot inflict a greater pain on the Jews than by killing their prophet, and I will show you that all his art is of no avail and that his God cannot save him from my hands."

Soon after, he went to Regensburg, accompanied by his servants, and he also had with him many judges and counts. As soon as he arrived in Regensburg he divided his men into two sections, saying that he would go into the city, into the Jewish street, to the house of the Jew, and put him to death. "For", he said, "I will go to him myself."

The counselors said to him: "Dear sire and prince, we must obey your orders, but we have heard that he is a man of great skill, maybe you will not be able to conquer him, and he will kill us all. Therefore be careful that you do not fail or make a mistake."

But the governor would not listen, and took a knife and put it in his boot to kill the Jew therewith.

Then he said to his knights: "I am going to the Jew myself, but if you hear a noise, mount your horses so that we may escape and save ourselves from violence."

As soon as the governor had settled on his plan, R. Judah, the Pious, knew of it and said to his students: "Such and such a wicked man is coming and he has made up his mind to kill me, and he is on the way hither."

Then he said to them: "When this wicked man comes into the bet ha-midrash and asks you who is your master, point to me. Nothing will happen to you, and you will see bow I will disarm him."

No sooner had he finished his speech, when the governor was at the door and came into the bet ha-midrash and asked who the master was. The students pointed to the pious man. As soon as the governor beheld R. Judah, his strength left him and he could not do anything to him. He greeted R. Judah, and the pious man returned the

greeting.

Then the governor changed his tune and said to him: "Dear master, I have heard much of your great art, that the like of you cannot be found anywhere on earth. Therefore, I have come to ask you to show me some of your wonderful deeds so that I may also be able to sing your praises before other princes and lords."

The pious man replied: "Gladly, my gracious lord, but you must not take it amiss, I am only a poor Jew and cannot do much, but I will show you some of my clever performances, so that you may also be able to speak of me."

And with these words he led him and his two counselors into a chamber. Then he said to him: "I will show you my cleverness. Look out of that window and you will see many clever and beautiful things."

The wicked man put his head through the window, and R. Judah, by means of mystic names, made the window grow longer and narrower so that he could not get his head out again and was nearly strangled, while the two counselors whom he had brought with him stood still and. dared not move. They saw their master's great suffering but could not prevent it.

Then the pious man said: "Ah, you scoundrels! you must all die. Do you think that because you are a free bishop you are going to kill me? Oh, no, you have made a mistake. God almighty has revealed to me your wicked heart and your infamy. I know full well that you have a knife in your boot with which you intended to kill me, but God Almighty has protected me from you and has placed you in a similar position. Now I cannot help you, you must die. Let your 200 men come, whom you have brought with you and let them save you from my hands. No, they cannot help you, you infamous rascal. What wrong have I ever done to you that you should come from Salzburg to Regensburg in order to kill me? But God has avenged Himself on you this day."

The wicked man was much frightened and said: "Master of all masters, I pray you, be gracious to me this time, for I confess my guilt and beg for grace. Do not let me die such a shameful death. If God help me to return to my town and country, I will bring back the Jews whom I have expelled and will show them kindness all the days of my life, and I will treat all other Jews in the same way, in so far as it lies in my power, as you will see for yourself. Only let me go back in peace to my country."

When he had entreated the pious man a long time, he replied to him and said: "Give me your hand and promise on your honor that you will keep the pledge which you have made concerning the Jews and 'will not break it, then I will show you favor, for I know very well that your 200 men have not been able to help you. I will now set you free and trust your word, for you are a mighty bishop and it behooves you to stand by your word and not to break the promise which you have given. You must be more careful of this than another, lor you are a man of noble birth. But if you break your word and act treacherously to us, as you have done before, know that you will not be safe from me in your own house, for I can find you anywhere, even as I found you here."

The governor swore to him on his honor, and the pious man could see that he intended to do good to the Jews as long as he lived. So he let him go free. When the governor came back to his people, who were waiting for him, they asked him whether he had killed the pious man, and he told them all that had happened to him, and the people wondered greatly at the remarkable skill of the Jew. He went back home with his men, and as soon as he reached Salzburg, he sent for the poor Jews whom he had expelled and received them back and treated them well.

Finally he embraced Judaism and became a pious and righteous Jew. May God grant us the benefits of the merits of both. Amen.