There was once a little town called Sabat hidden deep in the mountains of Gilboa in the northern part of the Holy Land. The people of the town loved Shabbat, the holy Sabbath so deeply that they named their town after the Day of Rest. Every Erev Shabbat (Shabbat Eve – Friday), the people would march to the end of the town singing praise to the Holy One, blessed be He, and welcome the Sabbath Queen with “ Bo-ee Kallah Bo-ee Shabbat Malka.”
In the town of Sabat lived a beautiful blind girl named Rachel who would walk slowly on Erev Shabbat, strewing sweet-smelling roses, singing “Shalom Aleichem.” It was a time of fear and horror for the people of in the Holy Land, for the powerful Roman Legions invaded their land. One Friday afternoon, word came that the invaders were on their way to Sabat. The town rabbi called a gathering of the townsfolk.
“My people,” cried the rabbi. “Do not lose courage. Remember that the Holy One, blessed be He is with us. Let us bow and welcome our Shabbat Malka (Sabbath Queen).”
At that moment the Roman army, led by a centurion mounted on a white stallion, marched into Sabat. The sun shined off his armour, his red cape billowed in the breeze and his red plumed helmet as he slowly dismounted his horse.
The centurion looked around, grinned and said, “I am pleased to see an obedient village. More of your people should bow to us.”
“Roman fool!” shouted a villager. “We were not kneeling to you. We were welcoming our beautiful Sabbath Queen.”
The streets of Sabat were empty. The Roman leader drew his sword and said : “Seize that man and bring him to me.”
Two Roman soldiers dragged the protesting villager and forced him to his knees before their commander. The Roman’s face was red with anger. “I see no Queen. Are you making a fool of me, telling me about a Queen I cannot see?”
“She does exist,” interrupted the town rabbi. “We see her in all the beauty of our Sabbath. We see her in our prayers. We see her in our special Sabbath food. With true faith one can see many wonderful things.”
“You are an odd people,” mocked the Roman. “You can see this Queen, you say. Very well. Produce her at once, or I rip this worthless town apart house by house. I will spare no one and then plow this town’s ruins under with salt!”
There was a sudden cry from the Roman ranks. The soldiers were pointing wildly towards the road they had just marched into the town of Sabat.
Walking with graceful steps was a girl, beautiful to behold, clothed in a flowing white robe. Her long black hair shone in the light of the setting sun, and a happy smile played on her lips. She looked neither right nor left as she cast small red and white roses along the road, touching her lips to them first and saying, “Shalom, Shalom.”
“She looks like an angel of heaven,” whispered a Roman soldier.
“Or a majestic Queen,” another nodded.
“I know !” cried a soldier. “She must be their Sabbath Queen. She could come only from heaven !”
The Roman centurion walked slowly towards the girl, repeating to himself, “Her eyes ; they see us not. She looks right through us towards the white mountains and heaven.”
Trembling with fear the Centurion bowed before Rachel, the blind girl of Sabat, who dropped her last rose gently before him. “Forgive me, O Queen, for the wrong I have done this village,” he said. “We will depart at once and leave your people in peace.”
As the last soldier of the Roman legion marched out of Sabat, the villagers surrounded Rachel and cheered the bravery of the beautiful blind girl. The people of Sabat danced into the night, singing Ayshet Chayil, “A Woman of Valor.”
It happened in the year 70 of the common era, in the little town of Sabat hidden deep in the mountains of Gilboa.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)