Religion and Political Vision

Abstract

Albert Hirschman recounts the story of the Polish rabbi who impressed a Kraków congregation with his psychic powers. One sabbath while saying prayers in the Remuh synagogue, he suddenly exclaimed: ‘The rabbi of Warsaw has just died.’ Since Warsaw is located over 150 miles to the north of Krakow, the people in the synagogue marveled at the clairvoyance of their rabbi. Yet doubts began to emerge when some Jews from Krakow visited Warsaw two weeks later and saw that the rabbi there was still alive — indeed, healthy enough to preside at the Sabbath services. On returning to Krakow, these Jews told their colleagues about their rabbi’s mistaken judgment. Although some of his detractors snickered, other faithful supporters rushed to his defense. ‘Oh yes,’ they retorted, ‘he may have been wrong about a few specific details. But what great vision our rabbi has.¹