| Onkelos’ search Onkelos, son of Kalonymus, was the nephew of the emperor, Titus. Onkelos was thinking about becoming a ger, a convert to Judaism. So he went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised his uncle Titus from the dead and asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Titus answered, "Israel." "What then," Onkelos asked, "would you say about my joining them?" Said Titus: 'Their observances are so numerous that it is impossible to endure them. Instead, go and attack the Jews in your world, and you will become master over them, as it is written, 'Her adversaries are now masters' (Lamentations 1:5); whoever harasses Israel becomes a master of men."
Next Onkelos went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised Balaam from the dead. He also asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Balaam answered, "Israel." "What then," Onkelos asked, "do you say about my joining them?" Balaam said: 'Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever." -- Deuteronomy 23:7
Then Onkelos went and, with the aid of a necromancer, raised Jesus from the dead. He asked him, "Who is held in the highest regard in the Other World?" Jesus said, "Israel." "What do you say about my joining them?" Jesus said, "Seek their welfare, seek not their harm. Whoever touches them touches the apple of God's eye. Observe the difference in behavior between the sinners in Israel and the prophets among the nations of the world." --Talmud, Gittin 55b-57a (uncensored version)
When Onkelos formed the intention of converting to Judaism, he feared the anger and opposition of Hadrian. He informed Hadrian that he wished to travel [to Eretz Israel] on business. Hadrian offered him all the money he needed to remain in Rome. When he announced his intent to convert, the emperor smote him on the cheek. --Tanhuma Mishpatim (adapted) |
In the second century, Onkelos
translated the Torah into Aramaic. His translation has been preserved and remains a vital
tool for scholars.
|
| When Onkelos, son of Kalonymos,
converted to Judaism, Caesar sent a troop of Romans to arrest him. But when Onkelos won
them over by citing verses from scripture, and they too became converts…. Caesar did
not send soldiers for him again. -Talmud, Avodah Zarah 11a |
Onkelos’ search (part 2)
| Midrash, Genesis Rabbah 70:5 | |
| Regarding the text: "[For the Lord your God] befriends the ger, providing him with food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:18), the ger Onkelos asked Rabbi Eliezer: "Is that the reward for the ger, food and clothing?" "Is then that a small thing in your eyes?" replied Rabbi Eliezer. "When our ancestors asked for bread and clothing, they would make a vow (Genesis 28:20). Meanwhile G-d comes and offers it to the ger on a platter!" Then Onkelos visited Rabbi Joshua, who began to comfort him with words:" 'Bread' refers to the Torah, as it says, 'Come, eat of my bread' (Proverbs 9:5), while 'clothing' means the [scholar's] cloak. When a man is privileged to [study the] Torah, he is privileged to perform God's precepts. Moreover, they [the proselytes] many their daughters into the priesthood, so that their descendants may offer burnt offerings on the altar." |
|
Copyright 1999-2003, CLAL - The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership