[8] Rabbi Chonan.
[9] "Graetz's History of the Jews," vol. 4, p. 309.
CHAPTER XI.
THE RETURN OF THE RENEGADE.
It was just a week since Mendel and the Rabbi had walked out together.
Hirsch Bensef rushed with gigantic strides up the street leading to his house, and long before he reached his door he shouted, at the top of his voice:
"Miriam! Miriam! I have news for you!"
Miriam had recovered her health, and was in the kitchen preparing meat for the following day. This was a most important operation, requiring the housewife's undivided attention. According to a Mosaic command blood was sacrificed upon the altar of the Temple, but was strictly forbidden as an article of diet. The animal is slaughtered in a manner which will drain off the greatest amount of the life-giving fluid, and great importance is attached to the processes for extracting every particle of blood from the meat which is brought upon the Jewish table. A thorough rubbing with salt and an hour's immersion in water are necessary to its preparation. Scientists who acknowledge that the blood is the general vehicle for conveying the parasites and germs of disease, recognize in this command of Moses a valuable sanitary measure, worthy of universal imitation.
Miriam heard her husband's distant call and, with her hands full of salt, she ran to the door.