The Fallen Sword
of the Sultan
In the early 1640's, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire made a journey
from his seat of government in far off Turkey to places of importance
in his domains. He made his way to the Cave of Machpelah
in Hebron. He entered adorned in the traditional ruling garb, including
the Sultan's gold sword, studded with diamonds and precious stones,
which hung at his side. The Sultan wandered from room to room, finally
entering the huge hall named after the Patriarch Yitzhak.
The center of attraction in the Yitzhak Hall is a small circular hole
in the floor, near the wall shared by the smaller Avraham Hall. The
hole is perhaps the most sacred spot in the entire illustrious structure
above the burial caves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, for it leads
down into the caves themselves. Pilgrims from all over the world journey
for weeks and months, only to have the opportunity to stand by this
small dark circular opening, leading into the cave, which according
to tradition, was excavated by Adam, the first man.
The Sultan leaned over the revered aperture, peering down into it.
As he bent over, his precious sword fell from his side, down into
the cavity in the ground. Hearing the clang of metal hitting the ground,
the Sultan realized that his sword lay in the caves underneath. The
Sultan called the officer of the guard and ordered him to lower a
soldier through the hole into the caves below, to retrieve his sword.
Quick to respond to the Sultan's order, the officer selected a soldier
nearby. Another soldier wrapped a rope around his waist and lowered
the soldier into the underground cavern. No sooner had they done so
when, without warning, piercing screams penetrated from inside the
hole below. Quickly they pulled up the soldier but he was dead. The
Sultan ordered that another soldier be lowered into the caves. So
it was, and his fate was precisely as his predecessor's.
The Sultan continued to send soldiers into the caves until it became
apparent that all who enter the caves do not exit alive. The Sultan
turned to his hosts and exclaimed, "Who will return to me my
sword?" The Arabs, looking at one another, answered without hesitating.
"Why not send down a Jew? If he dies, none of us would care,
and if not, you will have your precious saber back". So the Jews
were ordered, on pain of death, to supply a volunteer to be lowered
into the caves to return the Sultan's sword to him.
The Jews Hebron had heard what happened to the Sultan's soldiers.
How could they send one of their own to his death? They prayed and
fasted, hoping to avert the decree. Realizing that they had no choice,
they looked one to the other. Who would dare to enter the sacred Caves
of the Patriarchs?
The elderly Rabbi of the community, the kabbalist and sage Rabbi
Avraham Azuli, the author of Chesed L'Avraham, solved the
dilemma. "I will enter the Holy Caves. Have no fear". And
so it was. After praying and pleading before the G-d of Avraham, Yizhak
and Yaacov, Rabbi Avraham Azuli immersed himself in the mikve
and dressed in white garments, the traditional dress of the dead.
He set forth to the Cave of Machpelah.
With a rope tied around his waist, Rabbi Azuli was lowered into the
cave. When his feet hit the ground, Rabbi Azuli looked around him
and found, standing by his side, three bearded men. "We are your
forefathers", they told him, "Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaacov".
Rabbi Azuli, was dumbfounded. Finally he said to them, "Why should
I leave here and go back above. I am elderly, and here I have found
my Forefathers. I desire only to stay here with you."
The Patriarchs insisted, "You must return the sword to the Sultan.
If not, the entire Jewish community of Hebron is liable to be wiped
out. But have no fear. In another seven days you will return here,
to be with us."
So the saintly Rabbi returned to the Yitzhak Hall, above the cave
of the Patriarchs, and with him, the Sultan's sword. The Sultan was
pleased. Upon seeing their beloved Rabbi return alive, the Jews of
Hebron declared the day a holiday. Rabbi Avraham Azuli spent the next
week with his students, teaching them all he knew, all the esoteric
teachings of Torah. Day and night he learned with them, instructing
them, imparting to them all that he knew.
Seven days after being lowered into the Cave of Machpelah, Rabbi Avraham
Azuli, returned his soul to his Maker, dying peacefully in his home.
He was brought to rest in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron, overlooking
the final resting place of his beloved Forefathers, Avraham, Yitzhak
and Yaacov.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from www.hebron.co.il]
Biographical note:
Rabbi Avraham Azuli (1570-1643), authored the well-known Kabbala
work, Chesed l'Avraham. He is the grandfather of one of the
most famous Sephardic sages ever, the Chida (Rabbi Chaim Yosef
David Azulai, 1724-1806).
Yrachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed,
and editor of Ascent Quarterly and the AscentOfSafed.com and KabbalaOnline.org
websites. He has hundreds of published stories to his credit.