Page:Poems of Emma Lazarus vol 2.djvu/46

Shepherded by the learned Rabbi David,
A prince of IsraeL In Babylon
The Jews eatablisbed tbeir Academy.
Anotber still in Bagdad, from wbose chair
Preached the great rabbi, Samuel Harlevi,
Versed in the written and the oral law,
Who blindfold could repeat the whole vast test
Of Miscbna and Gemara. On the banks
Of Eden-bom Euphrates, one day's ride
From Bagdad, Rasiihi found in the wilderness,
Which once was Babylon, Ezekiel'a tomb.
Thrice ten perpetual lamps starred the dim shrine.
Two hundred sentinels held the sleepless vigil,
Receiving offerings. At the Feast of Booths
Here crowded Jews by thousands, out of Persia,
From all the neighboring lands, to celebrate
The glorious memories of the golden days.
Ten thousand Jews with their Academy
Damascus boasted, while in Cairo shone
The pearl, the crown of Israel, ben-Maimuni,
Physician at the Court of Saladin,
The second Moses, gathering at his feet
Sages from all the world.
As Raschi spate,
Forgetting or ignoring the chief shrine,
The Exile's Home, whereunto yearned all hearts,
All ears were strained for tidings. Some one
"What of Jerusalem? Speak to us of Zion."