The Denver Jewish news., 1925-01-22
CHAPTER q

CHATTER u
Raruch. the son of Rabbi Goldfein,
had had the customary struggle Of the
Jew who attended schools of higher
learning in Russia when he entered the
college nj Moscow, Dcridcd by his tel-
low students and ostraciscd by them,
and at every turn made to feel by the
faculty of the school that he did not
belong it was small wonder that he
was driven to desperation,
In his classes he. made good prog
rcSs. His unfailing good nature in the
face of all this adversely aud under the
contempt that he was covcrtly made to
feel however won him the friendship
in the course Of his second year at the
school of one of the sons of an aristro-
cratic family. This and the added fact
that Baruch would help him in his
lecture courses made him feel in a way
under obligations to him and cascd his
position. were Ii possible. With the help
ur this student, Baruch received II few
lessons among some of the Weather
residents of Moscow us a private
! tutor.
I Euruch had moi before been made
! to feel the cruel grip Of Antiscmitism
in all its intensity. True in Odessa
Antisemitsm was just rs strong. But
here Baruch was in the bosom of his
I family and his friends We're those
I from whom he could demand and re
ccive the warrant sympathy. He was
/ somewhat sheltered against the shafts
of Judaeophobia.
In Odessa he came into nn entirely
ncw world for which he was not pre-
pared. True against hatred he could
] steel himself. But his nature, gencr
Gus and warm. longcd for companion
ship. And when it was offered him hc
was only too willing to compromise and
barter.
So he was not long proof against
/ the continual admonishmcnt Of hi'
. friend that he should give up Juda
ism. The contact wifi wealth, and the
only partly vcilcd hints that as a con
vert he would he welcomed made 4
strong impression on his seusitiy,
spirit.
1t was while he was giving Il lessor
in one of the families TO which he was
introduced by his Russian friend that
he met Nautushu He was Il different
Baruch than when he had entered tn,
cllssrooms of the college. Tall. dis
! tinguishod looking before, his appear
auce was enhanced by the modest cut
Of the clothes hc wore which hecom
ingIy fitted and emphasized his figure
lie had become leader in the sport,
of his classmates and their yalutary
effect was seen in the healthy glow
of his features and the rounding out
of his muscles.
Nntasha would very often drop in
! to the home where he was tutoring
/ and have Barurh accompany her home
4 strong attachment sprung up betweer
the two. II was not long before
Baruch was invited into the home and
I there became frequent visitor.
They forced upon him small loans
which placed him more than ever in
their obligation Baruch needed this
money and though reluctantly led to
accept it at first his qualms were soon
forgotten.
Barurh's Judaism was now rarely
mentioned. Indeed hc had been visi
tor at the family or NntaShn for over
/ n year before they nscertuincd that he
I was q jew. He was intoxicated with
/ his intimacy with Natnshn and his
| entry into circle where the making
Of liyelihuo dwas not n daily con,
Germ To assert his Judaism now
meant degradation. perhaps worse. His
/ correspondence with his home showed
mrousciou-Iy the creeping in of these
| insi1ious Influences and he received
| many bitter letter from his father
But it was too late. And even these
! letters had the very opposite effect