"Shaul, Shaul, why do you persecute me? I am Yeshua whom you are persecuting."
Acts 9:5

Tales of the Talmidim

The Blind Benyamini

Rav Shaul Ha-Benyamini was a great Torah scholar who studied in Jerusalem in the days of the Master. Although he had much Torah knowledge in his mind, his heart was not right with God. He hated the Talmidim of the Master and did not want Yeshua to be the Messiah. He did not want anyone to believe in Yeshua.

He went from synagogue to synagogue and from house to house arresting and persecuting the believers. One day he was on his way to the city of Damascus to arrest the believers living there. When he was almost there, an amazing thing happened. All of a sudden a bright, flashing light from heaven shone all around him. Rav Shaul Ha-Benyamini fell to the ground and tried to cover his eyes with his hands. He heard a voice say to him, "Shaul, Shaul, why are you persecuting Me?"

Shaul looked up and said, "Who are You, master?"

The voice said, "I am Yeshua whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, and someone will tell you what to do."

Shaul stood up. The voice was gone. The light was gone. He could not see anything anymore! He was blind. The men with him led him by the hand into the city.

In the city, Shaul fasted from food and drink and he prayed for three days. Then a talmid named Hananiah came and prayed for him. He said, "Shaul, the Master, Yeshua has sent me to pray for you." Something like scales fell from Shaul's eyes and he could see again. He immediately believed in Yeshua and became a talmid of the Master.

How did Rav Shaul Ha-Benyamini become blind?

In what other ways was he already blind?

What did he do to show that he was sorry?

Kehilat Sar Shalom