The Emperor Hadrian was a great warrior who conquered many lands and rule the vast Roman Empire. Having achieved such power, he ordered his servants to worship him as a god. The wise men among his servants said to him that he had no power over Jerusalem and the temple.

He said, Is it not written: “The L-rd is King (Is. 33: 22)

He traveled to Jerusalem and gathered his armies outside the walls of the Holy City.  He called upon the people of Jerusalem to worship him as a god. Three wise men of Jerusalem came before him. One of them said: “Will you rebel against your master in His own house? Go out of His house and I will worship you as a god. For His house is heaven and earth and you are within His house. As long as you are within it I cannot worship you as a god.” The second said: “You say that you are god? G-d created heaven and earth and you too. You are nothing.” The third said: “Wait awhile, I have a message to send; after that I will worship you as a god.” Hadrian said: “What is it that you must do?” The wise man replied: “A ship of mine is now on the high seas and is about to sink.” Thereupon the king said: “I will send my ships at once to rescue yours.” The sage replied: “By the time your ship arrives, mine will have sunk. Do me the kindness and send a little wind to carry it forward.” The king replied: “Where shall I get the wind?” The sage said: “If you cannot command the wind, you are not a god, for it is written that G-d:

…created heaven and earth and the people upon it’ ” (Is. 42.5).

The king went home and told his wife all that had happened to him, and asked her to worship him as a god. She replied: “I will do it gladly, but you have a deposit which has been entrusted to you. Give up the deposit and I will do your will and worship you as a G-d.” Then the king asked: “What is the deposit?” His wife replied: “The soul which G-d gave you. Return it to the owner.” The king said: “If I give back my soul, what can I do without a soul?” The wife replied: “If you have no power over yourself, how can you have power over others and be a god?” When the emperor heard this, he felt ashamed and gave up his evil intention.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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