Satan in Goray - Isaac Bashevis Singer [20]
the rabbi's son, invited him for supper, for in his controversy with his father Levi lent his silent support to the Sabbatai Zevi sect. Gathered together were members of the inner circle; all the cabalists apparently sensed that the packman had something of interest to tell. Reb Mordecai Joseph, Rabbi Benish's foe, was amongst them. Nechele, Levi's wife, closed the shutters and stuffed the keyhole so that Ozer's children would not be able to carry on their customary spying. Everyone sat around the table. Nechele offered them onion flatcakes, and set drinks on the table. Reb Itche Mates took only a morsel of bread, which he swallowed whole, but he bade those about him to feast their fill and drink hearty. Perceiving at once that Reb Itche Mates was one of the chosen, they did as he bade. Their foreheads became moist, and their eyes shone with the hope of great times to come. Reb Itche Mates unbuttoned his jacket and drew from the inner pocket a letter written on parchment in Aramaic, in a scribe's script, and with crownlets on the letters like a Torah scroll. The letter was from Abraham Havchini and Samuel Primo, who resided in the Land of Israel. Hundreds of rabbis had put their signatures to this letter, most of them Sephardim with exotic names reminiscent of the Talmudic masters. It became so quiet that Ozer's boys, who were lurking outside the door, heard not even a whisper. The wick in the shard crackled and sputtered, long shadows trembled on the walls, shook back and forth, merged. The well-born Nechele stood beside the oven where she burnt kindling. Her thin cheeks were flaming hot; she glanced sidelong at the men, and absorbed every word. Reb Itche Mates sat hunched up, speaking almost in a whisper, divulging mysteries of mysteries: only a few holy sparks still burned among the husks of being. The powers of darkness clung to these, knowing that their existence depended on them. Sabbatai Zevi, God's ally, was battling these powers; it was he who was conducting the sacred sparks back to their primal source. The holy kingdom would be revealed when the last spark was returned whence it had come. Then the ritual ceremonies would no longer hold. Bodies would become pure spirit. From the World of Emanations and from under the Throne of Glory new souls would descend. There would be no more eating and drinking. Instead of being fruitful and multiplying, beings would unite in combinations of holy letters. The Talmud wouldn't be studied. Of the Bible only the secret essence would remain. Each day would last a year, and the radiance of the holy spirit would fill all space. Cherubim and Ophanim would chant the praise of the Almighty and He Himself would instruct the righteous. Their delight would be boundless. Reb Itche Mates' speech abounded in homilies and parables from the Torah and Midrash. He was familiar with the names of angels and seraphim, and quoted at length passages from the Book of Trans-migrations and Raziel; all the mansions in heaven were known to him, every detail of the supreme hierarchy. There could be no doubt that here was a most holy man, truly one of the elect. The decision was that all should keep silent and that Itche Mates should spend the night at the home of Reb Godel Chasid, who sat opposite. In the morning they would see what was to be done. Reb Godel Chasid took the packman by the hand and led him to his house. He offered him his own bed, but Reb Itche Mates preferred to sleep on the bench near the oven. Reb Godel Chasid gave his guest a sheepskin cover and a pillow and retired to the alcove that served as his bedroom. But he could not sleep. All night long there came from behind the stove a bee-like drone. Reb Itche Mates was busy at Torah and, although there was no window in the room, he was surrounded by light as though the moon shone upon him. Before daybreak Reb Itche Mates rose, poured water on his hands, and sought to steal away to the study house. But Reb Godel Chasid had not undressed. He took Reb Itche Mates by the arm and whispered confidentially, "I saw everything, Reb Itche Mates."