Now, the other statesmen of the Duke grew envious of Rabbi Amnon. Most envious of them all was the Duke's secretary, who could not bear to see the honor and respect which Rabbi Amnon enjoyed from his master, which was rapidly developing into a great friendship between the Duke and the Rabbi. The secretary began to seek ways and means to discredit Rabbi Amnon in the eyes of the Duke.

One day the secretary said to the Duke: "Sire, why should you not persuade Rabbi Amnon to become a Christian, like ourselves? I am sure that considering the honor and many favors he has enjoyed at your generous hand, he will gladly abandon his faith and accept ours."

The Duke thought it was not a bad idea. When Rabbi Amnon came to his palace the next day, he said to him: "My good friend, Rabbi Amnon, I know you have been loyal to me for many years. Now I wish to ask you a personal favor. Abandon your faith, and become a good Christian like myself. If you do, I shall make you the greatest man in the whole of my state; you shall have honor and riches like no other man, and next to me you shall be the most powerful man in my state..."

Rabbi Amnon grew very pale. For a moment he could find no words to reply to the Duke, but after a while he said: "O illustrious Monarch! For many years I have served you faithfully, and my being a Jew in no way lessened my loyalty to you or to your State. On the contrary, my faith bids me to be loyal and faithful to the land of my sojourn. I am ready and willing to sacrifice everything I possess, even my very life, for you as well as for the State. There is one thing, however, that I can never part with - that is my faith. I am bound by an unbreakable covenant to my faith, the faith of my forefathers. Do you want me to betray my people, my God? Would you want a man to serve you that has no respect for his religion, for the bonds and ties he holds most sacred? If I betray my God, could you ever trust me never to betray you? Surely, the Duke cannot mean it. The Duke is jesting!"

"No, no..." the Duke said, though he sounded a little uncertain, for inwardly the Duke was impressed with Rabbi Amnon's reply. Rabbi Amnon hoped that the matter was settled, but when he arrived at the palace the next day, the Duke repeated his request. Rabbi Amnon became very unhappy, and began to avoid visiting the palace, unless it was absolutely necessary.

One day the Duke, impatient at Rabbi Amnon's obstinacy, put it very bluntly to him: He must either become a Christian at once or take the consequences. Pressed to give his answer immediately, Rabbi Amnon finally begged the Duke to allow him 3 days in which to consider the matter. This the Duke granted him.

No sooner did Rabbi Amnon leave the Duke, than he realized his grave sin. "Dear God," he thought, "what have I done? Am I lacking in faith and courage that I requested three days for consideration? Can there be any but one answer? How could I show such weakness even for one moment?! O gracious God, forgive me..."

Rabbi Amnon arrived home broken hearted. He secluded himself in his room and spent the next three days in prayer and supplication, begging God's forgiveness for the weakness of heart he had shown even for one moment.

When Rabbi Amnon did not arrive at the palace on the third day, the Duke became very angry, and ordered his men to bring Rabbi Amnon in chains.

The Duke hardly recognized Rabbi Amnon, so much had the venerable man changed in the course of the last three days. However, the duke quickly brushed aside whatever feeling of sympathy he might have felt for his erstwhile friend, and said to him sternly:

"How dare you disregard my command! Why did you not appear before me in time to give me your answer? For your sake I trust you have decided to do as I tell you. It will be bad for you otherwise..."

Although Rabbi Amnon was now a broken man physically, his spirit was stronger than ever.

"Sire," Rabbi Amnon answered him fearlessly, "there can be but one answer: I shall remain a loyal Jew as long as I breathe!"

The Duke was beside himself with wrath. "It is now more than the question of your becoming a Christian. You have disobeyed me by not coming voluntarily to give me your answer. For this you must be punished..."

"Sire," Rabbi Amnon said, "by requesting three days for consideration I have sinned gravely against my God."

These brave words enraged the Duke even more. 'For sinning against your God, " the Duke said angrily, "let Him avenge Himself. I shall punish you for disobeying MY orders. Your legs sinned against me, for they refused to come to me; therefore your legs shall be cut off!"

With very faint signs of life the legless body of Rabbi Amnon was sent back to his home, to his grief stricken family. It was the day before Rosh Hashanah (New Years day).

The news about Rabbi Amnon's dreadful fate spread throughout the whole city. Every one was horrified and distressed. It was a very tragic Day of Judgment for the Jews of Mainz, who assembled in Shulll the following morning.

Despite his terrible suffering Rabbi Amnon remembered that it was Rosh Hashanah, and he requested to be taken to Shull. At his request he was placed in front of the holy Ark.

All the worshippers, men, women and children wept terribly seeing their beloved Rabbi in such agony, and never were any more heart rending prayers offered than on that day of Rosh Hashanah.

When the "chazan" began to recite the Musaph prayer, Rabbi Amnon motioned that there be made an interval while he offered a special prayer to God. Silence fell upon all the worshippers, and Rabbi Amnon began to say "Unesaneh tokef". The congregation repeated every word and their hearts went out to God in prayer. Then they most solemnly recited the prayer of "Oleinu", and when the words "He is our God, and no other" were reached, Rabbi Amnon cried them out with his last remaining strength, and passed away.

The prayer "Unesaneh Tokef" - the most solemn prayer of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is recited in every Jewish community in the world, and the courage of Rabbi Amnon, the undying author of this prayer, serves as an inspiration to us all.