2. Greater Responsibilities: Fears and Quests (Fragment)

The Talmud Student

In accordance with a decree of the pillars of the rabbinical authorities of old, regarding the study of Holy Writ, as a rabbinical student, Leon was obliged to give one third of his time to the study of the “Chumsah” (Pentateuch), one third to the “Mishna” (Earliest Rabbinical Commentary), one third to the study of “Gemara” including “Halachah” and “Agada” (Talmudic classics). This literature is so vast and deep that the rabbis call it “Yam ha‑Talmud” (Talmudic ocean). Into this stormy ocean Leon was thrown because of the goal set for him to become well‑equipped and learned in all the strict rules and rituals. All the above‑mentioned studies were in the original languages — the Biblein ancient Hebrew, the Targumim in Aramaic and the Talmudic books in Chaldean.

His Talmud teachers were very zealous, for they were of the old school, and it was not easy to satisfy their ambitions; but progress had to be made. Every Saturday afternoon an examination was held before father; or in his absence, before his appointee. Leon had to satisfy the whims and fancies of the examiners and to endure their sophistry — both quizzes and queries. The piercing eye of the ambitious teacher watched every procedure during these examinations, and woe if there was a slip on the part of his pupil. Besides reproach, a heavier and more intense drive was imposed.

One incident, which Leon would not forget, was an examination before the aged and very famous Rabbi Schmuel. This dear old man failed to consider that the student before him was only a young boy but expected him to be able to answer all his queries. The teacher who was present, felt humiliated because his promising student did not come up to his expectations. On the following week he laid a heavier burden upon the youthful shoulders.

Leon’s studies had to begin daily before dawn, when night and day were still blended, in order to fulfill literally the Scripture “You shall meditate on it day and night.” Since rising early in the morning to study was not easy for young people, Leon arranged with the town watchman on a monthly basis to awaken him before sunrise, and to avoid disturbing his parents invented a little trick. The watchman pulled a string, one end of which was attached outside the house, and the other end tied around Leon’s big toe. This method was effective for he was able to leave his home quietly.

Enthralled by Superstition

The Jew in his dispersion — away from the homeland, the base of his religious obligation — has no means of observing God’s commandments according to the Law. Since the Temple is destroyed, he is entirely subject to his rabbis and their interpretation of the Holy Writ. Of the Divine Law given to Moses only a “shell” was left, and even this was filled with rabbinical “stuffing” made of all kinds of substitutes, wherefore the Lord said “Their fear toward Me is taught by the precepts of men” (Is. 29:13). Over this pitiful condition another prophet lamented in the Name of God: “…they have hewed them out broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:15). SELF‑righteousness was established instead of GOD’S righteousness; tradition and superstition instead of biblical truth, instead of love to God and reverential adoration, there is slavery: dread of Him, fear in life and fear of death. This results also in pangs of fear of the dead and of all kinds of spirits. Superstition prevails chiefly among the rabbinical Orthodox Jews.

In the evenings and by night the mind is more affected by it. After midnight, synagogues stimulate trepidation in the hearts of those who pass by in the early hours. Many ghost stories are told in connection with the synagogues, as if the souls of the departed, who during life neglected their observance of religion, gather there in groups for prayer and exercise of such rites and ceremonies. In case these dead should not have the required number for congregational prayer and the reading from the Scroll, they might cause sudden death to some passerby just to reach the full number. It makes it especially gruesome for a priest, whose presence might be indispensable for the reading of the Scroll for the congregated spirits.

Many a time, Leon, being a young priest, endured such horrors of fear when he was obliged to pass a main synagogue. To protect himself from such an eventuality, his grandfather advised him to use a cabalistic formula on his way home, as well as to recite the 92nd Psalm and Psalm 107:13‑14. As another means of protection, he was advised to construct a lantern with five panes of glass, and to paint on each pane a star of David.