The Talmud (Yoma 69a) certainly seems to think so when it tells us that the presence of a righteous person can protect an entire city. But what happens when that person is removed?

That’s the question that hangs heavy in the air as we turn to the story of Jeremiah and the fall of Jerusalem, as retold in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews.

Jeremiah, the prophet whose name became synonymous with lamentation, was more than just a witness to the destruction of Jerusalem; he was, in a way, its protector. His righteous deeds acted as a “firm pillar” for the city, his prayers “as a stony wall.” Imagine that – the spiritual power of one person holding back an invading army!

But divine protection, it seems, has its limits.

God, knowing that Jerusalem could not fall while Jeremiah was present, orchestrated the prophet's departure. He commanded Jeremiah to travel to his hometown of Anathoth, to take possession of a field that was rightfully his by inheritance.

Now, you might think, "Wait a minute, that sounds like a good thing!" And Jeremiah himself initially saw it that way. He rejoiced! He took it as a sign that God would be gracious to Judah. If God was telling him to invest in the land, surely that meant there was a future for the land, right?

But here’s where the story takes a heartbreaking turn.

Scarcely had Jeremiah left Jerusalem when an angel descended. This wasn’t an angel of salvation, though. This was an angel of… well, of grim reality. According to Legends of the Jews, the angel appeared on the city wall and caused a breach to appear. And then, the angel cried out a chilling announcement:

"Let the enemy come and enter the house, for the Master of the house is no longer therein. The enemy has leave to despoil it and destroy it. Go ye into the vineyard and snap the vines asunder, for the Watchman hath gone away and abandoned it. But let no man boast and say, he and his have vanquished the city. Nay, a conquered city have ye conquered, a dead people have ye killed."

Imagine the despair that must have gripped the city upon hearing those words! The Watchman – the protector, the righteous man – was gone. The spiritual defense had crumbled.

The enemy was invited to enter.

It’s a powerful, if unsettling, image. A conquered city... a dead people. The angel's words are a stark reminder that military victory isn't always what it seems. It’s easy to boast of triumph, but true victory, according to this legend, lies in moral strength, not martial power.

This story leaves us with a few lingering questions. Was Jeremiah’s departure a test of faith? A necessary sacrifice? Or a tragic illustration of the consequences of spiritual decline? Whatever the answer, the legend serves as a potent reminder of the profound impact that even one individual can have on the fate of a community. And the devastating consequences when that protective presence is lost.