Ridley Hayim Hershell, ‘Blessed are those that mourn’ (1807-1864)

A wrapping paper can change your life completely. This is what Ridley Hayim Herschell experienced personally.

Conform to the world

Hershell was born in 1807 in Poznan (Poland) and had a strictly orthodox Jewish upbringing. When he was fourteen years old, he was aleady studying to become a rabbi. He learnt the Scriptures very seriously and with great respect. In fear and trembling for the Righteous One, he exhausted himself in prayer and penitence and spent many a sleepless night studying the Talmud. He also memorised entire chapters from the Tenach.

A Polish friend brought a change to his religious zeal by challenging him to broaden his horizon. Hershell accepted, and with the same diligence, he devoted himself to the study of the German language and secular literature. More and more he conformed to the manners of his non-Jewish fellow students and only when he was called ‘Jew’ in the streets, was he reminded of his roots.

Blessed are those that mourn

The death of his beloved mother was a heavy blow to Hershell. Plunged into the utmost grief his conscience woke up and he decided to fast one day a week and to say prayers again. This did not calm down his guilty conscience and in despair he cried out, “O God! I have no one to help me and I do not dare to approach You. I am guilty! Help me, for the sake of my father Abraham. Have mercy upon me!” God didn’t answer him immediately, but his cheerful companions did. Their advice was, “Go to the theatre, find entertainment and distraction.” His soul would not find peace, but God didn’t let him go.

One morning Hershell went to a shop where they wrapped items in a piece of newspaper or the page of an old book. His purchase was wrapped in a page of the Bible and on his way home his eyes noticed the words ‘Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). He carried on reading from the Sermon on the Mount on his giftwrap.

Impressed by Jesus the Messiah

The page caught his attention. From which book was it torn? Hershell had no idea. A few days later he saw a book on the table in the house of an acquaintance. He opened it and read ‘Blessed are those that mourn…’ It was a New Testament, a ‘gentile book’. But he overcame his aversion and read it from cover to cover. Gradually he became deeply impressed by the person of Jesus Christ. Hershell was moved to tears as he read about the crucifixion, although he didn’t realise at that time that the Lord Jesus also died for his sins.
Conversations with Rev. Henry Calbone Ridley opened his eyes and on April, 14th 1830 Herschell was baptized. In appreciation of the Reverend he took the name Ridley.

Herschell died rather young, but he used the years that God him gave effectively. Through his preaching many found the Messiah.