The Tale of Moses ben Levi

These are the words of Moses ben Levi concerning the events of his life, in the days of his delights. He declared:

My brothers, hear my words. In my youthful days, I was happy in my song, and my companions rejoiced in my speech, and many assisted me. I was lightly occupied with my labor, and that was enough for my welfare. I would get up early and stay late, engaged in conversations, and sitting, involved in pleasures; I was in the perfumers’ market, and all the men there were like my cousins and peers. There I earned, through the advice of the trustworthy and upright traders, a few dinars.

I observed the agreeable residents of my city, friends and cousins, occupying themselves with the Torah of the One who gives the solitary a dwelling [see Psalms 68:7], and I yearned to join them in their meetings and be one of the disciples. I said, “What will be, will be!”—and I abandoned all labor and made the effort to learn some halakhah. I joined the eminent residents of my city, and this was my reward, for I would wake up early to go to the houses of scholars, and I sat at the feet of the perfect ones, so that they should explain to me hidden matters, to me and my amiable friends. We were entirely happy as we would read and review the discussions and ask questions of one another and provide reasoned answers, resolving difficulties and problems. [ . . . ]

The stars above, it came to pass after two years (Genesis 41:1), I looked for the money that had been in my possession, but I could not find it, for I had used it on food and drink, and I had enjoyed the books I had bought, and the items I had brought, and the taxes I had weighed out, and the things I had prepared, and the friends I had acquired, and I was left with only a little from much [see Jeremiah 42:2], and I still had not gained proper understanding. After that, I approached my friend, but he did not respond to me; I begged him in person, but he did not say, “I am here,” so I then composed for him these rhymes with their hints:

I subsequently said to myself: “I am better off sitting in my father and mother’s house, learning the Torah of those who hewed me [unclear], and it will be enough for them to rejoice in me.” I desired to learn and read the Torah, and I observed the words of those who view its greatness, for its trade is better than the trade of silver, and its gain than fine gold (Proverbs 3:14).

I remained with my father and mother for six months, but they grew strict with me, and whenever I thought that they would perhaps listen to my words, they acted like enemies against me. Then I girded my loins and knees, and, taking all I needed, with the aid of the One who helped the princes of our nations, I went on my way. [ . . . ]

And thus, I found rest for my soul, as I left on a Friday, and on that same day—as I was not sluggish—I arrived, with the help of heaven, at a certain village located among the cities of Egypt. It was a sight for sore eyes, a place of delicacies, garden springs, a crown of villages [kefarim], with the scent of henna [kefarim], a wellspring of sweet things, a bed of roses, altogether lovely. [ . . . ]

And I found there some of the holy seed [Jews], of the number of a month, among them a man who inspired great awe, who retained his splendor in old age, who possessed humility and fear of heaven, and he was from the third son of Leah [from the tribe of Levi]. He greeted me with warmth and swore by the unknowable God that I should spend the Sabbath only with him, and that I should eat solely from his food. I respected his pledge and fulfilled his oath, and I discovered that he was the elder of the congregation, who taught them the paths of the Torah, and he was like a topaz stone [see Exodus 28:17] among them. I stayed with him gladly, and it turned out that he was one of my father’s first friends, an offspring of nobles, a descendant of scholars. So, I sang this happy song about him: