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STORY In the story, a Roman ruler decides to martyr 10 Rabbis as 'punishment' for the 10 brothers listed in the Torah who sold their brother Joseph to Egypt ( Genesis , Chapter 37). He justified this by saying that the penalty for this was death (according to Jewish law, one who kidnaps his fellow Jew and sells him into slavery is punished with death. This, however, doesn't allow for decendants to take the place of those who should have been punished), and though this crime took place thousands of years ago, there are 'none like you' 10 who are capable of rectifying this crime. THE MARTYRS The first two to be executed were ''Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel'' and ''Rabbi Yishmael the Kohen Gadol ''. Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel was beheaded, and while Rabbi Yishmael wept, the Roman ruler's daughter coveted Rabbi Yishmael for his physical beauty. When she was told that he would have to be executed as well, she asked that the skin of his head be flayed while he was alive, so she could stuff the skin and look at his face. Perhaps the most well known martyr is '' Rabbi Akiva '', who was raked over his skin with iron combs. Despite the pain consuming him, he was still able to proclaim God's providence in the world by reciting the Shema , drawing out the final ''Echad'' - "One". Another sage martyred was ''Rabbi Chananya ben Teradyon'', who was wrapped in a Torah Scroll and burned alive. Damp wool was packed into his chest to ensure he wouldn't die quickly, thus prolonging his agony. When he was being burnt, he told his students that he could see the letters of the sacred torah "flying up" to heaven. The others mentioned in the poem are ''Rabbi Chutzpis the interpreter'' (so named, because he would interpret the words of the Rosh Yeshiva - the head of the Yeshiva - for the masses, who could not follow all his words); ''Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua''; ''Rabbi Chanina ben Chachinai''; ''Rabbi Yesheivav the scribe''; ''Rabbi Yehuda ben Damah''; and ''Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava''. PART OF THE YOM KIPPUR MUSSAF RECITAL Although this poem is also recited as part of the service on Tisha B'Av , it is perhaps best known as part of the Yom Kippur mussaf recital. This was made part of these services because of the impact losing so many pilliars of Judaism would have to the masses. As such, it has become one of the 'highlights' of the day, marking a point when the congregation should reflect on their own lives and the sacrifices that were made for their sake. IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES In contemporary times, the moral of this poem has taken on a new meaning with the deaths of millions of Jews during The Holocaust . Indeed, many Jews followed Rabbi Akiva's example reciting the Shema as they were being led to the gas chambers. EXTERNAL SOURCES |
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