1. Early Training Steeped in Ancient Traditions (Fragment)

Fear of the Cross

All of this and much more was being stored deep in the heart of Leon and became clear only years later, but meanwhile, the little Jewish boy was growing up in the constant fear of the Cross. He avoided all contacts with Christians. The so‑called “Christians” around Leon had neither influence nor attraction for him. As a rule, the Gentiles in the place where he lived were hostile to the Jews. Gentile boys poked and kicked Jewish children they approached. From the window of his parental home facing the street, Leon saw a big crucifix, which to him was a symbol of fear and trembling. On Sundays and holidays, when the peasants from the surrounding countryside came into town, they first assembled around this crucifix on the crossway, kneeling before it and chanting, and woe to the Jew who happened to pass by at such a time.

It happened more than once to Leon, that on his way to school he was attacked by one or another of those worshipers of the crucifix. After being repeatedly mistreated, Leon went with his sorrow to his parents but always received one answer: “Little boy, we cannot help you. We are Jews in exile and are in the hands of the uncircumcised. The Gentiles are always persecuting us Jews, because we are different and believe in the living God.” On these occasions they would also tell Leon of crusades of persecution, of martyrdom and of wild legends and falsehoods spread against the Jew, such as — “The Jews use Christian blood in their Passover bread, the Matzoth.” As a result many Jews were massacred during the celebration of the Christian Easter.

Such stories naturally filled Leon’s heart with sorrow and indignation, for he knew that the Passover bread was prepared with painstaking care as to its purity. He also knew the strictness of the Divine Law with regard to the use of blood, that the Jew is obliged to abstain from any kind of blood in his food (Lev. 7:26‑37 and 17:10‑14). When he asked the question “Why should the Jew be so hated and persecuted by the Gentiles?” he never received a satisfactory answer, but was warned to keep himself away from the crucifix and the Christians.

A youthful prank

The studies to which the ambitious and persevering Leon was deeply devoted, were very strenuous. Being a lively boy and full of energy, he felt a desire from time to time to enjoy a little freedom. The monotony of confinement to the stuffy school room was sometimes too much. Too little liberty was given for “free breathing” as the boys liked to say. Festive days were no vacations at all. Services in the synagogue, with chanting of long prayers, required much time. The only pleasure to be had was the enjoyment of the good festival meals, prepared by the loving hands of Leon’s mother and eaten in the company of the whole family. Between meals and worship hours on Sabbath days and other holidays, there were additional religious exercises, such as reciting of Psalms from memory, the study of the “Pirke Abot” (Aphorisms of the Fathers), the Bible Book “Song of Songs,” and customary visiting of relatives.

One time something happened to the teacher and studies were interrupted for the day. Leon, with a few other boys who were just as lively and impulsive as he, took advantage of the occasion and used the unexpected free time to play some pranks. Among other games they played was the so‑called “horse racing.” Three boys joined hands and racing with three other boys across the street dashed blindly into an elderly woman, throwing her to the pavement and injuring her. This unpleasant incident was reported to the supervisor of the school. As a warning for the future, the teacher inflicted a severe disciplinary punishment upon Leon, who was the instigator of the game. The entire class was mobilized to take part in the punishment. Leon was disguised, dressed as a hussar, his clothing rolled up above his shoulders representing a soldier’s kit. A military top hat was made of cardboard. Thus disguised, he was obliged to “run the gauntlet,” while the fellow students “applied the rod.” Later these boys who did this with great pleasure received their portion in return.

In general, Leon did not have a sunny boyhood. There was no time for carefree play and other recreation such as Gentile boys of his age enjoyed. From his earliest days the yoke of Rabbinical Law was placed upon his slight shoulders. The misinterpretation of the exhortation in Hosea 9:1 — “Israel, thou shalt not rejoice like other people,” did not exclude children. Leon was brought up literally “in the fear of God,” not in a sense of awe toward God, but in real fear of Him.