The Kabbalist

by Katz, Yoram

  “What did he say?” The old man demanded to know.

  “He had his doubts too,” replied Luria. “But like you, he was willing to float some ideas.”

  “Let me guess. He thinks such a document can prove his thesis that Kabbalah is derived from Christianity!”

  Luria did not answer.

  “Poor Jonathan,” said Orlev, “still a captive of his obsessions. Whatever you say, he unfailingly ends up singing the same tune - always this Christian Kabbalah. But what can you expect from a scholar who insists on transforming Jesus, the Jew who tried to preach to his people about putting an end to foolish hatred and strife, into something he never was – a Christian?”

  “What do you mean by that?” Jeanne was alarmed.

  ‘Here we go again’ thought Luria, feeling desperate. He knew he had to find a way to divert the conversation elsewhere.

  But the professor responded before he could say a word. “I mean this fixation of his, this blind spot he has along with the rest of the Christian world, that Christianity came into this world with Jesus. It did not. It was invented after him by Paul, who used Jesus’s charisma and the myth created around his death. After Jesus’s death, his brother James led the community of Jesus’s followers, who were all orthodox Jews. When Paul, who never knew Jesus, joined them, James and the others rejected his ideas and tried to silence him by sending him abroad. He eventually had his way and became the true father of Christianity. Jesus, like his brother, would have never accepted Paul’s ideas. Jonathan just cannot face this truth.”

  Jeanne was upset. “Professor Orlev,” her voice sounded strained, “no Christian can accept what you have just said. Really! There is a limit to what even you as an academic can allow yourself!”

  Orlev was not moved. “My dear Jeanne,” he said pleasantly, “you have got it all wrong… an academic cannot afford not to speak his truth, however inconvenient it may be. Remember Galileo. I am, of course, far from being in his league but my point is that one cannot just ignore evidence. And new evidence keeps popping up all the time to strengthen my claims.”

  “Evidence? What evidence?” Jeanne unconsciously raised her voice.

  Luria gave her a reprimanding gaze. The last thing he wanted was to have the professor elaborate on his conflict with Bennet, which, Luria had by now realized, was in fact a conflict with the whole Christian world. Jeanne returned a defying stare. She was offended by the professor and wanted a confrontation. As Luria feared, the professor leaned back on his couch, preparing to launch one of his lectures.

  “I do apologize, dear. I have upset you again,” said Orlev. “I would like to ignore the religious aspect of this loaded topic. The only aspect I will discuss is the historical one. It is true that we are talking about events which took place 2,000 years ago, and that the Church has made every conceivable effort since Nicaea to market its official version and to silence all others. Even so, new evidence keeps emerging.”

  “You have already said that. What evidence?” Luria never heard Jeanne talk rudely before.

  The professor chose to ignore her tone. “The New Testament comprises some hand-picked scriptures. The editors had a large number of candidates to choose from, and they picked those they found most palatable. This way, we ended up with the gospels of Mathew, Marcus, Lucas and John – four of Jesus’s known apostles.”

  Luria was curious. “What other gospels were there?”

  “To start with, there were the Gnostic scriptures which were banned by the Church. A stack of these scriptures was found in 1945 at Nag Hammadi in Egypt. They were hidden there by Coptic Christians who wanted to preserve them for posterity, yet feared the wrath of the Roman Church. Even before that, in the late 19th century, the famous ‘Gospel of Mary’ was found, also in Egypt.

  “Mary?” Jeanne was astounded. “The Holy Mother?”

  “No, no.” Orlev waved his hand impatiently. “It is associated with Mary Magdalene, Mary from the village of Migdal near the Sea of Galilee.”

  “A gospel by Mary Magdalene?”

  “Yes. According to it, Mary was Jesus’s closest pupil and apostle. It tells how after Jesus had gone, most of the other apostles turn to Mary to share Jesus’s secret knowledge with them. Still, Andrew and Peter reject Mary, refusing to believe Jesus had preferred her. Finally, Levi, another apostle, scolds Peter for having always been a hothead… No wonder this gospel never made it into the canon.”

  Jeanne opened her mouth to say something, but the professor raised his hand. “And there is more. In 1978, another gospel was uncovered in Egypt. ‘The gospel of Judas’ was made available to the public as late as 2001. According to this gospel, Jesus acknowledged Judas as the only disciple who really understood him and his vision, and claims that by extraditing him to the authorities, Judas was helping him shed his human body and unite with God.”

  “But this is absurd,” exclaimed Jeanne in disgust.

  “No, it is not,” said Orlev patiently. “My point is that many scriptures have been censored by the Church, due to their incompatibility with the party line. Once you understand that, your mind can open up to new ideas.” He took a sip from his glass. “Now, two years ago there emerged a truly extraordinary finding, which provides a whole new perspective to the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection. It shows that what has been hitherto perceived to be a Christian ethos is probably something totally different.”

  “You confuse me professor.” Jeanne was bewildered. “What finding?”

  The professor laughed his strange cooing laugh. “Well, my dear, this is indeed an extraordinary story, yet true. In 1998, David Jeselsohn, a Swiss-Israeli collector, bought from a Jordanian antique dealer a stone tablet, with eighty seven lines of Hebrew text inscribed on it. This artifact was carbon dated to the first-century BC. The text, dubbed ‘Gabriel’s Vision’, describes an apocalyptic vision of the angel Gabriel. It tells of an evil king who will destroy many Israelites, including their leader who is referred to as ‘Sar Hasarin’ – Minister of Ministers. After this calamity takes place, Gabriel orders this ‘Sar Hasarin’ to come alive within three days. Sounds familiar?”

  “But Professor,” Jeanne’s voice was strained. “You just said that the text was written in the first century BC. Jesus died in the first century AD...”

  “Aha,” trumpeted the old professor, raising his hand and waving his finger, the image of a biblical prophet. “This is my point exactly! This text precedes Jesus by almost a century and yet tells of the death of a Messiah and his resurrection within three days!”

  “I think I see your point,” said Luria. “You are implying that Jesus might have consciously played a role that had been written in advance.”

  “I am not sure I understand,” said Jeanne.

  “This is very simple, my dear,” explained the professor. “If indeed, there was in Jesus’s time a prevailing myth about a Messiah, who would die and subsequently be resurrected, then Jesus might have consciously planned his death in order to fulfill this prophecy and make use of this myth. He believed that his spilled blood would facilitate the salvation of the people of Israel.”

  “You are saying…” Jeanne’s voice conveyed utter disbelief. “Are you saying that Jesus planned his own death? That he meant to die? Are you hinting that he committed suicide?”

  “My dear…” the good professor noticed Jeanne’s distress. “All I am saying is that Jesus might have walked open eyed to his death, choosing to die a martyr for a cause he believed in, as did many Jews before and after him.”

  “But… but you claim he actually planned the whole move…”

  “Yes,” said Orlev. “I think this is highly probable.”

  Jeanne looked shaken.

  Orlev pressed on. “The key to understanding Jesus lies in understanding the prevailing traditions and myths of his time. Jesus was a natural product of an era characterized by Messianic fervor and obsessive political activity. He represented the prevailing notions and ideas of his time. He represented
evolution. His ideas, as presented in the New Testament are refreshing but by no means revolutionary.”

  “So,” said Jeanne defiantly, “you see no new message in Jesus.”

  “I did not say that.” Orlev smiled patiently. “I think he was quite innovative, but not necessarily in the area that got him so famous. Jesus was a Jew with unique capacities and original thought, who wanted to save his people. He was not the only one with such aspirations during that turbulent period in the history of the Jewish people. There were the Zealots, the Essenes, the Sicariis and others. This multiplicity of sects just goes to show the volatile trends during that period, the fertile ground on which Jesus sprouted.”

  “And you really believe his death was something he consciously pursued in order to bring salvation to his people?” Jeanne was still finding this unacceptable.

  “I think so, yes.” Orlev nodded passionately to emphasize his conviction. “He did this to achieve salvation for his people. Mind you, not salvation for the world, as later claimed by Paul, but salvation for the people of Israel. Jews, especially under Roman rule, had little interest in the salvation of the gentiles. In fact, Jesus explicitly forbade preaching his message to the gentiles and Paul consciously violated his instructions. To use our modern corporate culture’s language, I would say that Paul made a brilliant strategic move - he went global.”

  He had a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. “All this gives a somewhat different outlook on the Christian ethos, doesn’t it?”

  39. Death in Jerusalem – February 23rd, 2010 (Tuesday)

  Luria’s mobile phone rang. He glanced at it. It was an unknown number. “Luria,” he answered tersely.

  “Yossi Luria,” said a voice on the other side. “It has been a long time.” The voice was familiar, but it took Luria a few seconds to trace it to his old chief, Ehud Arnon. “How are you, sir?” He said, surprised.

  During the first few months after Luria had left the police, Chief Superintendent Ehud Arnon tried to reach him, but the hurt and angry Luria never returned his calls. After a while, Arnon stopped trying and the two have not spoken since.

  “Thanks, Luria. I am fine, and you?”

  “I am not complaining. Still hurting a bit over that incident, but I now understand you had no choice in the matter, and I am fine today.”

  “Luria, you must not apologize about what happened four years ago. In hindsight, I realize that I put you in an impossible position.”

  Luria was not sure how he should respond to that, so he just ignored it. “I followed your promotion through the media,” he said. “So, congratulations, Commander Arnon, Chief of Jerusalem Regional Unit.”

  “Thanks, Luria. I am actually calling about an event which took place in Jerusalem this morning, in which your name came up.”

  “I am listening."

  “Does the name Yeshayahu Orlev strike a bell?”

  “Professor Yeshayahu Orlev? Of the Hebrew University?”

  “That’s the one,” said Arnon. “I take it that you know him.”

  “Yes, I do. What happened?”

  “Well… we are trying to interview Professor Orlev about a homicide which took place earlier today, and he insists on your participation in the interview. Somehow, of all the people in this world, Yossi Luria is the one Professor Orlev trusts. I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to renew our relationship. That is, if you have no objections anymore to meet your ex-chief.”

  “Homicide?” Luria was astonished. “Professor Orlev involved in a murder case? I find this highly unlikely. Who was murdered?”

  Arnon was cautious. “I never said he was involved. This is too early to tell. However, he possesses information which is critical for the investigation. The victim was an academic from the Hebrew University, a colleague of Professor Orlev.”

  “Can you tell me his name?”

  “This is still not in the media, so I am telling this to you in confidence. The name is Jonathan Bennet.”

  Luria felt his stomach turning.

  * * *

  Two hours later, Luria parked his car in front of Professor Orlev’s house. He jumped out, hurried through the garden gate to the door and rang the bell. Looking at the bougainvillea bush and the garden, he experienced a brief ‘Déjà vu’, which was shattered when the door was opened by a uniformed police officer.

  “Who are you?” asked the officer.

  “Yossi Luria. Private investigator.”

  “Can I see an ID?”

  Luria passed him his driver’s license, which the officer scrutinized carefully, comparing the picture with the man standing in front of him. “So you are the famous Luria,” he said, handing him back his license. “Commander Arnon is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

  They passed by the entrance to the living room, and the officer led Luria to Professor Orlev’s study. “Wait here, please. The Commander wants a few words with you before you meet the professor.” He left and Luria remained standing, lost in thought and feeling very tense.

  “Luria, it is so good to see you,” Arnon’s voice roused him from his reverie. Luria looked at him. The last four years did his ex-chief good. New rank, new responsibilities… he had put on some weight, but looked fine and healthy.

  "Sir, these are strange circumstances, but I am very glad to see you too.”

  Arnon smiled. “You can drop the ‘Sir’. I am not your chief anymore.” He extended his hand, and Luria shook it. “I wish we had met under different circumstances, Luria, but it is good to see you. Despite what happened and despite your anger, which I can understand, I have always had high regard for you and considered you a friend.”

  Luria was surprised to discover how important it was for him to hear these words but made an effort to hide it. “That’s me. It’s my screwed-up character. I did not return your calls at the time, because I was too hurt and upset. It was childish of me.”

  “OK,” said Arnon, “now, let’s move on to business. I am sure you are wondering why you are here.”

  “I will be glad to find out what is going on.”

  “First, I need to understand your relationship with Professor Orlev.”

  Luria was not sure where to begin.

  “I have a case I am investigating for a client,” he explained. “It is quite an odd one, more of a historical mystery than a regular investigation. I met Professor Orlev twice in this context.”

  “Historical mystery?” Arnon frowned. “Just don’t tell me this has anything to do with that affair.”

  Luria had no intention to pursue this. “This is a private investigation. I am a private investigator now.”

  “OK. OK.” Arnon backed off. “So you met the professor twice. What do you know about him?”

  “Professor Orlev is not exactly anonymous. He is a world-renowned scholar of Jewish History. We had two long meetings, and we have common acquaintances. It is not like we are lifelong friends, but I do know him to a certain degree.”

  “Why does he want you of all people here?”

  “I was surprised too. I guess I am the only one he knows with a background in police investigations, and he feels more secure to have me around.”

  Arnon wrote something in his notebook.

  “All right,” he sighed. “It is time I briefed you. Perhaps you’ll be able to fill in a few gaps in this story for me. Sit down.” He pointed at the chair next to the desk, dropped onto a couch which stood nearby and started talking, occasionally consulting the notebook. “At 11:05, we had a call to 101[xxi] control, reporting an injured man, Jonathan Bennet, in a house off Emek Refaim St., Jerusalem. The report was made by one Yeshayahu Orlev.” Arnon raised his eyes from his notebook and looked at Luria. “Professor Yeshayahu Orlev,” he emphasized as if Luria needed that explained.

  “101 Control immediately sent an ambulance and alerted us. The operator tried to talk to the hysterical Orlev, who muttered a few incomprehensible sentences, wept and finally hung up. During this confused conversation, the operator
heard him also talking to someone else, who was apparently at his side.” He glanced again at his notebook. “He said it sounded as if Orlev was trying to calm down a little child.”

  “His son, Naphtali…” said Luria.

  “I thought his son was over thirty…”

  “Yes, but his mental capacities are of a five-year-old."

  Arnon nodded. He went back to his notebook. “At 11:25 the ambulance arrived on the spot, followed immediately by a police patrol car. They found the dead body of Jonathan Bennet. The report suggested homicide.” He looked at Luria, who kept silent. “At 12:00, police officers arrived at Professor Orlev’s home. They asked him a few questions, but he was incoherent. He burst into tears occasionally and could not be calmed down. He asked for you and then withdrew into himself and stopped communicating. The officers called central to report and asked for a doctor to be sent. At 12:30, I called you.” Arnon closed his notebook. “And now you are here. We have lots of questions for the professor, and I depend on you to help us get some answers.”

  “How was Jonathan killed?” asked Luria.

  “Jonathan?” Arnon was surprised. “You knew him too?”

  Luria nodded. “I have met Professor Bennet in the context of the same case.”

  In other circumstances, Arnon’s expression could have been considered comical. “What’s going on here, Luria?” he said. “You seem to know everybody involved. Yeshayahu Orlev, Naphtali Orlev, Jonathan Bennet… you do not cease to amaze me.”

  Luria tried a poor joke. “Eventually, you will suspect me of being the murderer.”

  Arnon was not amused.

  “So what do you think happened in Bennet’s place?” Luria repeated his question.

  “I have no good answer for that at this stage,” admitted Arnon. “You are here to help us figure it out by getting the professor to talk. However, now that I understand you knew Bennet as well, can you tell me anything about his relationship with Orlev?”

  Luria was not sure he wanted to tell Arnon at this point all he knew. “It is a complex relationship. Bennet was Orlev’s student, who, in time, became his colleague and partner. Yet, during the last few years they had some academic differences and became rivals.”