The Denver Jewish news., 1924-04-10
A Passover Night
By JENNIE RATHER BERKowITZ
of Denyer

the PharaOhs and their wicked people.
His face shone. and it was obvious that
he really lived again through the old
old legend.
His Imagination carried him far
away to the scenes on the arid desert.
He could hear and see everything as
though he were one of them. He sa
the haggard. wandering Jews with
heavy loads over their weary shoulders.
as they dragged themselves over the
nterminable plains; the blistering sand
enveloping their heads and blurring
their eyes. He saw them staggering
hungry and thirsty. with bleeding. swol-
len feet. ms they walked across the de
sert 10 their promised land-until-
once more. a miracle Occurred-manna
fell from the sky, and oil they were
saved.
NO. Shoaim. 'cm not come, der big
Skuch. VA. VA. in der old country, he
would not go way on Seder night"
she cried. wiping tear from her
wcaZcncd check which Father Time
had touched with his cruel claws.
Al. nj. if the Almighty had only
ponishcd The Polacks rs he did the
Egyptians.'' Slusberg intcrpolated.
then we would not have to drag our
tired bones to this strange land, where
our children, our own flesh and blood.
grow away from us. Dey think dey
know more den deir old felix's"
.'Not you say, Sholaim?" SOra draw
led. as If she had just wakened from
II dream.
Il say" continued Sholaim. that
Lin afraid we shall even lose our
heaven. too. for their sins" He mur-
INJURED in Yiddish. and a deep furrOw
he saw at that very moment his and his
children's souls roasting and scorching
in the hcllish fire of the Inferno.
He suddenly opened his eyes. gazed
at the old clock: ''Ten," he exclaimed.
MI. Sorn, let us eat. l see. him not
come. Nh, I'm tired. come give the
supper. "he suggested dryly.
"Ah. Sholaim. wait awhile. Adolph
may come yet" pleaded the mother;
"Ya, va. AmcritZka. no home, no chill
drcn, no Sabbath, no Pesech, no
nothin': Anna says she'll come, an
Bea atrice say she'll come too an bring
her little darlin' babes, an Luby say
she come too. an dcy no come! Oh. an
cook a whole day !" See. such good
fish and soup an nobody eat it! Oi
they have no care.
.Nu, Sorn. gcn,iK. We mustn't com
plain. Don't you know it is great
sin? va. n great sin. II is His will
and we have no say. Ef we would de-
serve better. e. l think He might
not let us he driven from our home
in Poland where we lived all our lives,
and where we We're born. our cradles
rocked, nn'-an'-wilere all our dear
graves lay.' He stopped to get his
breath. wiped large tear from his
pale cheeks. and continued. However.
Sora, we mustn't cry. especially on
Pcsech, to the Seder. Tonight we must
be cheerful and show our gratitude to
God. You see" he said. with an clatcd
in his eyes. He delivered
us from Egypt, brought MS safely to
our promised land, and an. Sho-
laim's voice was quivcring with emo
tion.
And they sat and prayed-prayed
mere than they ate, as it were. They
were too tired and grief-wOrn to enjoy
the delicious food. which it had taken
the old woman week to prepare.
Later in the evening, rs the cere-
monial wore on. according to religi-
Gus rite. Elijah the prophet was to
visit them. So the old man filled the
prophets glass to the brim. gave the
extra prayer due Elijah. and said with
pious mien. "Sora, dear, go open the
door for the prophet. II know. you
never had to do it befOre-we always
had some children home; but-now-
now He could not speak: his head
dropped on his palms: he leaned his
elbows on the table: his long beard
looked like II bush of flax; and. soon
he forgot himself in Il retrospection OF
his better days.
Good evening. dad sleeping! He
was suddenly awakened by Adoph's
entrance into the house.
"Slusberg raised his head, and look
ing drowsily toward his son, inquired,
in dry voice. 80 late? My Got
why can't YOU come sooner. Mt least
for that one night of the year: Last
year WI came at least for the feast
if not fer the prayer, hut now-but
now you-I tell yu, yu don care for
your OIL folks.
80 father. father. don't take things