Minyan of One

To reach Abulabaz, Isaac the Jew climbs a pyramid of slaves: one, two, three, up their black backs to his saddle (Persian carpets secured by a leather harness). The elephant and Isaac walk circles around the abandoned Roman circus that has become their home, Isaac telling Abulabaz impossible stories-about Charlemagne's court; Harun's Baghdad palace; China, India and Sind; Isaac's days trading eunuchs, boys and brocades for camphor, musk and cinnamon. Sometimes Isaac recites psalms, or discusses a passage of Talmud, taking first the part of Hillel, then that of Shammai. Sometimes the rhythm of their walking, the hypnotic crunch of snow underfoot, puts Isaac to sleep: he dreams, then-of dancing girls, the lost tribes, the End of Days when the righteous shall eat the flesh of Leviathan-for...