In the Lions' Den

It is told that in Rav Yehuda's lifetime the ruler of Morocco was Sultan Mullah Ismael, who was hostile to the Jews and looked for ways to harm them. His government placed heavy taxes on the community, leaving many families poor. It also imprisoned rabbonim and communal leaders, so that the community would have to pay very large sums to redeem them.

Once, Rav Yehuda himself was imprisoned. When the community could not raise the amount the Sultan demanded for his release, Rav Yehuda was thrown to the lions. To everyone's shock, he walked back and forth in the den, and the lions did not touch him. He came out unharmed.

The Chida records in Shem HaGedolim that he heard of this from the holy ones of the West. He writes that Rav Yehuda remained in the den for a day and a night, and that the whole affair was a ploy to extract money from the Jews. After this became known, Rav Yehuda was regarded as a tzaddik who was protected from harm, and as a worker of miracles.