Chapter One, The Legend of the Just Men Summary

In 1185, in England Jews are in a tower and are told they would not be harmed if they converted to Christianity. Rabbi Yom Tov Levy suggests the Jews return to their own God. They agree and Levy kills them. This incident sparked the legend of the Lamed-Vovnik, the just man, of which there are only 36. The purpose of the Just Man is to take all the sufferings of mankind upon himself. The legend continues when Solomon Levy is martyred when he pronounces the Messiah a fake who failed to bring peace to the world. Solomon's son, Manassah is martyred, and his son, Israel, settles in Toulouse where Christians are gentle. His son, Rabbi Mattathias Levy, is gifted in science, astronomy and medicine. Though uncertain as to whether he really...