Parshas Vayeshev 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
בעוד שלשת ימים ישא פרעה את ראשך מעליך ותלה אותך על עץ ואכל העוף את בשרך מעליך ... (מ-יט)
At the glittering court of Sultan Saladin of Egypt, harmony reigned when R’ Moshe ben Maimon zt”l, the Rambam, was appointed personal physician to the sultan. The courtiers admired the decision, for the Rambam’s reputation as both a Jewish scholar and medical healer had spread far and wide. Ever since the Rambam had arrived in the old city of Cairo, his fame had grown swiftly. To the Jews he was the greatest Talmudic scholar of the age; to the non-Jews he was the greatest physician of the age, a healer whose knowledge of medicine seemed boundless. Rich and poor alike sought his care, and the Rambam treated the needy without charge, regardless of faith. Yet not everyone rejoiced. Hakim, the Muslim physician who had previously held the honored post, now found himself relegated to second place. This wounded Hakim’s pride.
The more the Rambam’s name spread, the more Hakim felt forgotten. Jealousy hardened into hatred. He began to scheme, determined to discredit his rival and perhaps even destroy him. Until finally, he approached Sultan Saladin with grave words. “Your Majesty,” he said, “I have uncovered a plot against your life. The one behind it is none other than the Rambam.”
The sultan paled. Could it be true? He trusted the Rambam deeply, both as physician and friend. “If you can prove this accusation,” Saladin declared, “I will have the Rambam beheaded. But if you cannot, then it is your own head that will fall.”
Hakim bowed. “I can prove it. Among physicians it is known that a deadly poison can be rendered harmless by a stronger poison. Let us both prepare the strongest poison we can. I will drink the Rambam’s poison, followed by my own, and remain unharmed. But when the Rambam drinks mine and then his own, he will perish. Thus, Your Majesty will know the truth.”
The next day the sultan summoned both physicians. “Last night I dreamed that one of you plots to poison me. I cannot ignore such a vision. Prepare for me a medicine that can make any poison harmless. Tomorrow you will bring your mixtures, divide them, and each of you will drink the other’s potion followed by your own.” Hakim smiled with satisfaction. The Rambam, however, suspected trickery. Why would Hakim risk such a test unless he had devised some cunning plan?
That evening, after tending to his many patients, the Rambam lay awake. Suddenly the answer dawned on him. He knew how to outwit his rival. The following morning he rose early and prepared a simple solution of sweet water mixed with red wine, harmless, yet convincing in appearance. He rode to the palace calmly. Hakim was already there, eager for the contest. At the sultan’s signal, each physician poured half of his mixture into a separate bottle and exchanged them. “Your turn first, Hakim,” said the sultan. Hakim wasted no time. He swallowed the Rambam’s mixture, then his own. He stood tall, smiling broadly.
“Now you, Rambam,” said the sultan. The Rambam drank Hakim’s mixture slowly, then his own. He too remained steady.
For a tense moment silence filled the chamber. Then Hakim cried out in agony. He collapsed, convulsing violently, and within minutes lay dead. The sultan turned to the Rambam. “I am glad you are unharmed. I never doubted your skill. As for that wretch, I am glad you killed him.” The Rambam bowed. “Your Majesty, I did not kill him. He brought about his own death.”
Saladin looked puzzled. “I don’t understand,” the sultan said. “I saw what you did.” The Rambam spoke calmly. “Hakim knew I could prepare a stronger poison than he. His plan was to take a slow poison beforehand, then bring a harmless solution here. By drinking what he thought would be my antidote, he hoped to cure himself. Then he would drink his own harmless mixture and remain well. Meanwhile, I would drink his harmless solution, then my own strong poison, and perish. But suspecting this trickery, I too prepared only a harmless mixture. Thus when Hakim drank mine, it did not cure the slow poison he had taken earlier. He then drank his own harmless solution, and the poison within him did its work.”
The sultan burst out laughing. “It is clear as daylight! Not only are you the greatest physician, but you are also the wisest of men. From now on you shall be my adviser as well as my physician.” And so the Rambam’s wisdom saved his life and secured his place at the heart of Saladin’s court. His reputation grew even greater, not only as healer of bodies but as a Torah Sage and scholar whose foresight and integrity triumphed over envy and deceit. (Adapted from A Poisonous Proposition, By Nissan Mindel)