Reading Notes: Jewish Fairy Tales-Part B

Jewish Fairy Tales from Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919).

My Dog Jessie Sleeping for (Almost) One Hundred Years

The Sleep of One Hundred Years: Post destruction of the First Temple of Judaism, Rabbi Onias traveled there to bring supplies to the people who he thought needed it more than himself. After seeing the city that was once a wonder, he fell to the ground and slept. Seeds began to blow by him and the fruits in his basket started to bud trees, and so he was blocked with shade for one hundred years. He woke up confused by his surroundings, long beard and camel bones beneath him. He saw that Jerusalem was again beautiful and habited. In the city he found his grandson who told him that Jerusalem was saved. The Rabbi was now at peace, and fell asleep again without waking up.

King for Three Days: This story of the Crusades focuses on a soldier named Godfrey. Thinking he was doing the work of God, Godfrey (among others) killed many Jews. For some odd reason he wanted a blessing or sort of thank you from a Rabbi. Of course, the Rabbi was not going to do so, but Godfrey (despite wanting to) didn't hurt the Rabbi. Instead he told Godfrey that he would be King of the land... but only for three days. Godfrey wasn't happy with this of course, and wanted to prove the Rabbi wrong, proving him to be a "false prophet." The prophecy came true just as the Rabbi had said.

The Higgeledy-Piggledy Palace: Due to Sarah's beauty, her husband Abraham concealed her away in a box so no one would steal her away. When going past guards, he was too willing to pay any price that the guards became suspicious. They decided they had to open the box. Of course she was taken to the King who wanted her for himself. To avoid trouble, the couple had to lie and say that they were siblings. After changing into beautiful garments, the king wanted her as queen. As he tried to approach her, a force would stop him. He couldn't even lay down to sleep without his body being flung to the ground. It was like the entire palace was cursed, just as he was with leprosy. He went to Abraham and begged him to leave after curing him. Abraham did so, but not without telling him the truth, while giving him warning. If the King's family ever bothered his, then they too would see the fate of the King.

The Rabbi's Bogey-Man: Rabbi Lion couldn't find someone to serve him because people of his city were afraid of him. They thought that demons and witches worked for him. So, he decided to make his own woman servant. Sadly, she was burned down to nothing but the name of God on parchment when she was trying to play with children around a fire she had built too large. The Rabbi was taken to the King to be punished for this. The King had the Rabbi make another servant, and a man was made. The Rabbi and his monster were let go, but as time passed the monster grew less and less obedient. Eventually, the monster attempted to break into the synagogue to destroy the Torah scrolls in order to create an army of his own kind to destroy Jews. The Rabbi stole the name of God from the monsters mouth, and what was left was a pile of broken wood and glue.

The Fairy Frog: Hanina, the son of a wealthy/intelligent man one day found his parents at their death beds. They told him to mourn and then go to the market to buy the first thing offered to him no matter the price, as it would bring him luck. He did as he was told and spent nearly all of his money on a small casket that contained a frog. He and his wife fed the frog so well that they basically starved themselves, and the frog grew to be huge. The frog granted the couple all they had wanted, even all the information needed for Hanina to be a great sage. Then the frog took the couple to the forest where many creatures brought them an abundance of gifts. When the couple asked who the frog was, he said the fairy son of Adam before turning into a regular sized frog again and hopping away. Hanina and his wife would continue life as wealthy, intelligent, and charitable people.