Story: While Onias Slept

Onias Slept One Hundred Years

     The Rabbi Onias was the youngest rabbi in the city of Jerusalem. Many doubted his path to righteousness, but God showed Onias great favor. As the City of Jerusalem burned Onias would be sent to save her people. His faith would be both challenged and reaffirmed along his unimaginable journey.
     Onias set out with God's words resounding in his heart. He took only what he needed to survive. Onias became very tiered and hungry along his journey, but refused to supplement himself when the people of Jerusalem were starving. After collapsing from hungry Onias fell into a deep sleep. Many a passer by tried to wake him without success. Over time Onias was no longer visible to the naked eye. The vegetation grew up around him providing him protection from the world around him. Eventually, Onias was no longer sought out, but his story became that of a legend. Some people were certain that Onias was captured by the enemy, while others assumed he had continued on his journey to distant lands. Many thought him to be dead, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
     Onias had In fact awoke after only a few moments of rest, although he felt completely refreshed. As he looked around to take in his new surroundings, he realized he was no longer in Jerusalem. He had left behind the war and despair and was in awe of the beauty before him. He could see all of God's creation in it's intended splendor. How could this be, he wondered? I must have hit my head and now I'm imagining this place, he thought out loud. In his excitement Onias ran to tell others of this new land. He wanted the people of Jerusalem to come and celebrate this beautiful land. They will be reminded of the holy land when it was flourishing. They will unit in peace and sing God's praises. But Onias soon became sad. He searched across the land for days, but he never encountered another sole. There were two of every creature, but Onias was the only man. God provided Onias with everything he needed to live comfortably, but Onias was lonely. He spent his days caring for the animals and praying. As Onias prayed all of his dreams took shape before him. He could not understand what could have happened to mankind. Had the war escalated to the desolation of man?
    After Onias had had lived in the beautiful land for almost one hundred years God appeared before him. God spoke to Onias and explained to him that he was not on earth but in the heavens. "You have not died my child your mind is living beyond what mankind is capable of conceiving, while your body rest on earth," God said. Tomorrow when you awake on earth do not be alarmed. The world you knew no longer exists. The holy city of Jerusalem has been healed along with her people. As you have dreamed and prayed for things of this land Jerusalem has become them. Sleep now for tomorrow you will understand all that for all you have sacrificed Jerusalem will have a second chance. (540 words)

Bibliography:
Gertrude Landa.1919."The Sleep of One Hundred Years."
The Sleep of One Hundred Years.
Old Man Sleeping Picture

Author's Note:
The inspiration for this story was ""The Sleep of One Hundred Years" written by Gertrude Landa in 1919. I thought it would be interesting to imagine what Rabbi Onias was experiencing during his one hundred year long sleep. In the original story Onias is on a long journey. He falls asleep and does not wake up for one hundred years. the world around him has changed and he feels that he no longer belongs there. He asks to return to the place where he slept for so long. Once he is returned to the spot he falls asleep never to wake on earth again. The story does not give much explanation as to how the lands changed or how Onias slept so long, which is what made this story so fun to write. I hope you enjoyed it.