The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
ATALMUDICAL ACADEMY
PECULIARTTIEs NOT OBSERVED IN
GENTLE PLACES OF LEARNING.
The Rod Not Spared by the stern Jew.
ish Teachers-The Popularity of
Gentle Literature.
New York Commercial Advertiser.


five Jewish boys, each with a huge book
before him. Their ages ranged between ten
and fifteen, and they were for the most
part of a pasty, sallow complexion. Presd-
ing at the head of the table and toying
with a rattan was middle-aged man with
a pinched and haggard face and long
black beard sprinkled with gray. His head
was covered with a conical skullcap of dark
velvet, and the most conspicuous part of his
costume was an enormous white, un-
starched shirt collar.
The boys read their lessons aloud and all
together, gesticulating and swinging their
frail little bodies all the while. The rosh-
hashiva or teacher, followed their recita-
ton in his own book now urging on back
ward scholar, now prompting a word or
two, now bringing the whole class to a
etandstill in order to consult some of the
commentaries accompanying the text or to
bring culprit to justice.
"Itzky, don't hear your voice." he adj
dressed himself to a pale little boy, he
waved the other pupils into silence. Itzky
proceeded to reete the lesson singly. rs
that it2' the srosh-hashiva fired out. DO
you know what you are talking about?'
And reaching for the delinquent scholar
with his rattan, he fell to raining blows on
exhortation.
"Wnf you study your Talmud, Gentle boy
that you are? Will you be a righteous
Jewish boy or an American atheist? Win
you study, peasant head, will you? VIII
you2'
At this juncture tails bewigged, bonnet
less woman, with n basket in her hand, en-
tered the classroom
Good morning rabbit' she said piously,
Good morning, Rachel the rosh- hash
toll
moments respite, and then resuming opera
tons on his back. will you study the sa-
cred words will you nOt?'
Pardon him this time, rabbi" the woman
pleaded taking the rosh-hashiVa by the
arm, ''he will be a good boy now, won't you,
Itzky2 You must study your Talmud my
boy or you will grow to be Ounce and a
goddess >boor, and the Uppermost will not
help you" AS she went on with her lee
ture. the rosh-hashiva resumed his seat.
Itzlly was finishing his cry in little gaSps,
and at the same time his eyes, like those
of his classmates, were riveted to Rachel s
PREFERS ENGLISH.
You ought to see the same boy when the
English teacher comes 20 give them their
lessons in worldly things" complained the
rosh-hashiva HE knows his arithmetic
better than the rest, and he never gets tired
of studying those nasty stories about cats,
rats or mats or whatever other foolish
things the English readers are full Of.
Eyes, the Gentle books have more luck
with the children of Israel in this country
Rachel assented with a sigh Still, we
must not lose heart, rabbi, Gods sacred
Law must be kept up, and some children
Here she opened her basket and taking
out handfulS of apples she distributed them
among the boys, speaking as she did so:
pronounce the benedictiOn and eat, dear
children May il strengthen your bodies and
your souls for the study OF Gods sacred
books, for behold there is not a more bliss
full pursuit in the world. Don't be dazzled
by the pleasures of life, my little birds
Gods law is real happiness. Everything
else is frail and silly. You cannot take
money into your graves, but sacred love
you can, and it inSureS you a corner in
Paradise, where the righteous study the
Talmud like yourselves.
The boys received the apples with spark
ling eyes, and after an exchange of furtive
glances to ascertain whose was the biggest
and the best, they said in Hebrew: Blessed
art Thou, o I1ordi our God, King of the
universe, Creator of the fruit of the tree"
and went on eating and whispering merriy.
We'll / am afraid / have spent here more
time than / can afford the good woman
said after little, taking up her basket
my own business to attend to. You can't
spit out your soul, you know. While one
lives one must make a living May the Up
permost grant me strength to support my
self and to serve Him. Well study well
boys and God will help you and, for your
sake. all Of us. .Good-day, rabbi Good day,
my dear little kittens"
greeted a Division-street merchant at his
ey again. We teach some of the best boys
IN the neighborhood the Talmud, and also
want something for the recluse fund of my
from you"
NO USE FOR A RECLUSE.
"A recluse fund.-" the business man aues-
toned, with ill-disgutsed annoyance. II did
not know there were any recluses in Amer
lean synagogues and don't think we want
them, either
The pious woman took fire.
why? Can we not keep up Judaism here
as our fathers and brothers do in Europe?
God and his sacred laws are everywhere.
Here, of all countries in the world, we want
refuses. People are 50 busy working in the
factories or boShering their heads about
business that they nave little or no time
support good ptous poor scholars who are
free from worldly affairs to give all their
time to the study of Gods laws? We are
sinners, we are sinners, MIR. Levy.
She spoke so earnestly and there was a
note of such genuine grief in her voice that
silver dollar, as he said feelngly:
Il meant no harm, Rachel God bless
your work
years of health and happiness as there are
cents in this coin. Good day" she returned,
bustling away to another store
In the afternoon, while making thehounds
of her customers, whom she supplies with
caravan tea and Sabbath candles, she
dropped in, in passing, at the little syna-
Eogue, of which she is member. The room
was empty save for two shabby looking
men, who sat nOdding and geSticulating
over their Talmud volume, as did the boys
of the academy, She came in on tip-toe,
lest she should interrupt their sacred
studies, and laying two pieces of sponge
cake on the table, she was about to retire
as nOiselessly as she had entered when one
of the two men raised his head from his
book
Il am disturbing you May God forgive
my sin" she said. But here is something
to refresh you. Eat in good health How
do you feel Rabbi Moishe? And how Is
your wife, Rabbi Tzalel? have not seen
her for quite while"
COULD NOT PEDDLE
my wife?" Rabbi Tzalel rejoined with
sad smile she is grumbling, as usual
This is not what we have come to America
for she says. She wants me to try
peddIing again. But what is the use?
have tried enough and ii is plain that l will
never succeed When man has spent the
better part of his life in the synagogue, like
myself, it is hard TO make a successful
peddler or mechanic of him. 1t is too late
too late he added, ruefully. II fit fol
nothing except the Talmud and shall have
TO finish my Jays at it,
GLORY to you and to your father fol
bringing up such a pearl-for the crown OF
Judaism. said Rachael, deeply moved by
the mans words. Never fear. there are
plenty OF good Jews in America, and they
will not desert the righteous scholars OF
TIL -