And there is a sense in which the stories all lead on to that which I have placed last. The "Child of the Ghetto" may be considered "father to the man" of "Chad Gadya" in that same city of the sea. For this book is the story of a Dream that has not come true. I.Z. CONTENTS PAGE PRELUDE: MOSES AND JESUS viii A CHILD OF THE GHETTO 1 JOSEPH THE DREAMER 21 URIEL ACOSTA 68 THE TURKISH MESSIAH 115 THE MAKER OF LENSES 186 THE MASTER OF THE NAME 221 MAIMON THE FOOL AND NATHAN THE WISE 289 FROM A MATTRESS GRAVE 335 THE PEOPLE'S SAVIOUR 369 THE PRIMROSE SPHINX 424 DREAMERS IN CONGRESS 430 THE PALESTINE PILGRIM 441 THE CONCILIATOR OF CHRISTENDOM 453 THE JOYOUS COMRADE 480 CHAD GADYA 493 EPILOGUE: A MODERN SCRIBE IN JERUSALEM 514 DREAMERS OF THE GHETTO MOSES AND JESUS In dream I saw two Jews that met by chance, One old, stern-eyed, deep-browed, yet garlanded With living light of love around his head, The other young, with sweet seraphic glance. Around went on the Town's satanic dance, Hunger a-piping while at heart he bled. _Shalom Aleichem_ mournfully each said, Nor eyed the other straight but looked askance. Sudden from Church out rolled an organ hymn, From Synagogue a loudly chaunted air, Each with its Prophet's high acclaim instinct. Then for the first time met their eyes, swift-linked In one strange, silent, piteous gaze, and dim With bitter tears of agonized despair. A CHILD OF THE GHETTO I