Once, in the time of Rabban Gamliel, there was a wicked non-Jewish judge who wanted to undermine the authority of the rabbinical court. He spread stories everywhere about how fair and honest he was, so that the Jews would come to him to have their cases tried rather than go to the rabbinical court.

Rabban Gamliel and his sister devised a plan that would reveal to one and all the judge's dishonest character. That night Rabban Gamliel's sister approached the judge's home. The judge was surprised to see her there, and inquired as to how he could help her.

"I have a case that I wish for you to try, " she replied. "My father recently passed away, and my brother, Rabban Gamliel, has taken all the money and property for himself. I have received nothing.

"Why don't you go the Jewish courts?" asked the judge.

"I would surely lose," she answered. "My brother is an important, highly regarded member of the Jewish community. And besides, according to the Torah a daughter does not inherit anything if there are sons."

"What would you like me to do?" the wicked judge asked her.

Reaching under her cloak, she pulled out a beautiful golden lamp and placed it before the judge. "I want you to summon my brother to your court," she said. "I know I can rely on you that justice will be done."

"Go in peace," said the judge. "I will see to it that justice is done."

The next day Rabban Gamliel received a summons to appear in court with his sister. A large crowd of Jews and non-Jews gathered to witness the case.

"Rabban Gamliel," said the judge, "why do you not give your sister a share in your father's inheritance?"

"Our Torah states that a daughter does not inherit if there are sons," Rabban Gamliel answered.

"Since your Temple was destroyed Torah law is no longer the law of the land," the judge declared. "Roman law must be obeyed now. By Roman law sons and daughters divide the inheritance equally.

Rabban Gamliel appeared very solemn while his sister looked very happy.

The next day the judge heard a knock on his door. This time it was Rabban Gamliel. "Please accompany me to the courtyard," said Rabban Gamliel. "I want to show you a wonderful Libyan donkey which I inherited from my father. It is truly a beauty, without equal. I would like you to have it as a gift. Perhaps you will find a way to reconsider the ruling you handed down against me yesterday."

The judge recognized the animal as one of great value, and he would be pleased to acquire it. However, he remembered the golden lamp that he had already received from Rabban Gamliel's sister. He turned to Rabban Gamliel and told him, "I will have to study the law again. Perhaps I will find a solution."

A few hours later Rabban Gamliel and his sister were once again summoned to appear before the judge. Word quickly spread through the town, and a large crowd turned out to witness this unusual turn of events.

The crowd was silent as the judge entered. The judge addressed Rabban Gamliel and his sister. "I have been studying many law texts with regard to this case, and I have found one that states, `We cannot add or take away anything from the law of Moses.' In light of this, I must retract my original ruling and decide in favor of Rabban Gamliel, who informed me that the Torah says that a daughter has no claim on her father's inheritance."

"Oh wise judge!" cried out Rabban Gamliel's sister. "Let the wisdom of your ruling shine like the golden lamp I gave you!"

Rabban Gamliel smiled. "That is impossible my dear sister. I gave the judge a beautiful donkey which kicked over your golden lamp."

Everyone started to laugh. The judge, realizing that his true nature had been revealed, fled the room. From then on, he ceased to try to undermine the rabbis' authority.

Reprinted from the Tzivos Hashem Newsletter