The Two Graves in the Jewish Quarter
In the center of the Jewish quarter of Cracow stand two small, low stone walls, and this is their story. During the reign of King Sigmund II there lived a tax collector named Shlomo Zeligman, who was a Kohen. This Kohen decided to disregard the Torah law that forbids a Kohen to marry a divorcee, and he announced his intention to the Rema, the chief Rav of Cracow. The Rema not only forbade the marriage, he also placed a cherem (ban) on anyone who would serve as a witness to such a sinful union.
Incensed, Shlomo used his connections to approach the king himself and denounced the Rema for refusing to marry him and his bride-to-be. The king sent soldiers and ordered the Rema to appear before him. The Rema did not deny the charges. He explained to the king that the marriage was against the Torah. Even so, the king commanded the Rema to marry the couple at once.
The soldiers escorted the Rema to the square in the center of the Jewish quarter, where the couple stood beneath the wedding canopy, waiting for the Rav to officiate. The Rema was shocked to see that a large crowd had gathered to watch. He went up to the couple and thundered at the crowd, "Stand back, and distance yourselves from these two wicked sinners at once."
The crowd was taken aback and stepped back quickly at the holy Rav's warning. No sooner had the Rema turned away from them to occupy himself with his holy thoughts than a great cry and uproar rose from the onlookers. The ground had opened beneath the couple, and the earth had swallowed them.
The crowd quickly dispersed. News of the miracle spread, and the king, fearing Heavenly wrath, sent his soldiers back to the Rema with an apology and had them bring the chief Rav to him again. There the Rema declared that the king was not in rebellion against the Torah, since he did not know or understand its laws, and so he was blameless. The king was so relieved that he asked the Rema what token he wished for. The Rema asked that two stone walls be built to mark the graves of the two sinners, so that no Kohen would accidentally walk over them and become tamei.