Josef Meshita, the Jew Who Would Not Enter the Temple Twice

Gaster, Exempla No. 23 (Genesis Rabbah 65:22)

Another interpretation: "And he smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him" (Genesis 27:27) - such as Joseph Meshita and Yakum of Tzerorot. Joseph Meshita: at the time when the enemies sought to enter the Temple Mount, they said: Let one of them and from among them enter first. They said to him: Go in, and whatever you bring out is yours. He went in and brought out a menorah of gold. They said to him: It is not the way of a commoner to make use of this; rather, go in a second time, and whatever you bring out is yours. But he would not accept it upon himself. Rabbi Pinchas said: They offered him the tax revenue of three years, but he would not accept it upon himself. He said: Is it not enough that I angered my God one time, that I should anger Him a second time? What did they do to him? They placed him on a carpenter's saw-horse and sawed him apart, and he was crying out and saying: Woe, alas, alas, that I angered my Creator.

Themes

Biblical References