Half the Mantle

Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 437

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

437. Half the Mantle.

Bolte & Polivka, II,

p. 135 f-; HI,

p. 167 ff.

Clouston, Pop. Tales & Fictions, II, p. 372 to 378.

Grimm, K. & H. M.

Nos. 78, 145.

Jacques de Vitry, ed.

Crane, p. 121; 260. Kohler, Kl. Schriften, I, p. 473ff.

Wright, Latin Stories, No. 26.

Themes

Wisdom War Conversion Humor Adam Eve

Continue Reading

Ben SiraBen Sira's Timeless Advice on the Struggle for WisdomWe’ve all been there. And guess what? Thousands of years ago, Ben Sira, a sage whose wisdom is cherished in Jewish tradition, was wrestling with the same thing.Ben SiraBen Sira's Practical Guide to Navigating Daily LifeThis ancient text, part of the Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical books, is packed with practical advice for navigating the ups and downs of daily life. It’s like h Ben SiraWhen the Powerful Only Need You for ProfitBen Sira turns to When the Powerful Only Need You for Profit. He starts with a warning: "Hath he need of thee? Then he will toy with thee." for a second. If som Alphabet of Ben SiraDistance Yourself From Evil Neighbors"Distance yourself from an evil neighbor and do not be counted among their friends." So begins the proverb of the letter Resh (ר) in the Alphabet of Ben Sira. I Legends of the JewsBeliar Returns to GodThere's a powerful, almost prophetic passage preserved in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, a collection that draws together centuries of stories and interpretati Legends of the JewsAkiba's UnderstandingLet me tell you a story about Akiba, a name that once echoed with strength and defiance within the besieged walls of Jerusalem. The scene: Jerusalem, desperatel