"MINI-SHIUR" IN THE SUKKA
by Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum

Rabbi N Bernhard told this story in the Sukka;

Rufus was a Roman ( General?) who always engaged Rabbi Akivah- the great sage of that time......and could never get the better of this great rabbi...... eventually he became so irritated, frustrated and eventually very depressed. One day when he got home from yet another failure in debate with the rabbi..... his wife, Rufina, asked him what the problem was.? He explained that it was really 'getting to him' that he could never get the better of this great Jewish rabbi and sage. His wife was a bit of a 'femme fatale', a great 'beauty' and asked her husband if she could try her 'charms' on the rabbi to gain/score points in debate ( or other ways?)..... he agreed. He, Rufus was desperate to score points, to get the 'better' of this great man of knowledge..... so, anything anyway, anyhow would be fair. ( all fair in love and war )

So, off she went, all 'done up' ( this in the rabbi's words ) and as she entered the presence of the great rabbi...... he ( this great sage) did three things;
he spat, he cried, and he laughed.

So, why did he do this?
1) he spat ( the rabbi says this is a rabinical 'cold shower' ) because he saw her beauty, was moved by it and knew she wanted to 'tempt' him.

2) he cried because he thought what a pity, that such beauty should also die. The worms will also eat this flesh ( as all flesh) that such beauty will 'whither' like all others of the earth - dust to dust.

and the last...... was the best.
3) He laughed, because in his mind he could forsee the future, being such a great sage, he knew what the future held..... so he laughed with gusto and pleasure. So what did he forsee:

He knew that she was going to convert to Judaism after the debate and become his wife!!

Hope you enjoyed the mini-shiur...... I sure did during the Sukkot meal.
Rufina.

Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999 Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum

E-mail: Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum