Onkelos the Convert: The Moment That Shocked Rome - Tales of The Righteous Illustrated by AI

Unkilus, the famous and righteous convert. About 2,000 years ago, the wicked Roman Emperor Hadrien persecuted the Jews, issued harsh decrees, and was [music] cruel to the righteous. He couldn't believe that it was his own nephew, Unkilus, who had joined the [music] Jewish people. That same Unkus is the one who translated the Torah into Aramaic, the translation that we still read to this day. Unkulus was a wise man and knowledgeable in many fields. Through his studies, [music] he recognized the creator of the world. He left the palace, came to Jerusalem, converted and became a student of Rabbi Yahosua and Rabbi Eleazar, the great sages of that era. >> [music] >> was extremely diligent and acquired extensive knowledge in Torah. After the Babylonian exile, many Jews simply forgot the holy language and spoke different languages. Ezra the scribe translated the Torah for them into Aramaic. But that translation [music] became outdated. That's why Uncleus wanted to re-ransate the Torah into Aramaic. [music] And this is the translation we still use today. Hadrien the Roman emperor and Unilus's uncle heard about his nephew's actions and his success in Torah study. He was very angry and sent soldiers [music] to arrest Unkilus and bring him to Rome. The soldiers came to him and he spoke with them about the Jewish faith. The soldiers were deeply impressed and wanted to stay with him and convert just like he did. Since the soldiers did not return to Emperor Hadrien, he sent more soldiers and instructed them not to speak with [music] Unkilus, but to arrest him quickly and bring him to Rome. Unkulus asked [music] them, "It is known that a soldier holds the candle to light the way for someone who is greater and more important [music] than himself. A young officer carries the candle before the elder. The elder carries the candle before the commander. The commander before the leader, the leader before the emperor. Does the emperor ever carry a candle before anyone? They said to him, "No." He said to them, "God carries a candle before the Jewish nation, as it is said, and the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day and by night." These words made a [music] tremendous impression on the soldiers. They decided to abandon their mission, desert the army, convert, and become disciples of Unkus. Emperor Hadrien was furious and sent another battalion [music] of soldiers, commanding them not to speak with Unkilus at all, but to bring him in chains. The emperor's soldiers [music] arrived in Jerusalem, captured Unkus, and took him from his home without a word. Unkulus went with them without speaking, but before he left, he placed [music] his hand on the muza, kissed it, and smiled. The soldiers were intrigued and they asked him what that thing attached to the door was, why he kissed it, and why he was happy [music] when he was supposed to be going to the emperor as a criminal. Uncleus answered them, "It is customary in the world that the king [music] sits inside his palace and his servants guard him from the outside. But our king, who is the king of kings, the holy one, blessed be he, is [music] not like that. He lets his servants sit inside in comfort and he guards [music] them from the outside. That is our muza. The king's messengers were very impressed. They continued [music] talking with him and asking him various questions and they too became his students and converted. Hadrien realized that he would no longer be able to bring Unkus [music] to him. And this wicked man gave up. But Uncleis, the righteous convert, grew in Torah, and we study his holy words until this day, even 2,000 years later.