2. Greater Responsibilities: Fears and Quests (Fragment)

Strange Interference

In spite of the great respect and reverence towards Leon’s parents, it was voted that Leon be excommunicated from the “Stebel” (special place of worship used by the pious Chasidim), to whom he and his father belonged as members. The sin committed by Leon was considered a disgrace to the entire clan. None of those, who otherwise would have done anything for Leon, whom they loved, dared to interfere or to protect him against this severe measure; but something unexpected happened. One Sabbath morning, as the congregation gathered for worship, a group of Jewish men, ‘who did not belong to the caste, came and strongly demanded that this ban be removed, declaring: “We will not leave this place, and we will not let you take the Scroll out for reading, unless you exonerate Rebb Eleazar’s son.”

The leader of the group, being a man of influence, succeeded in his demand, and the ban was lifted from both. They were again admitted to the synagogue. Nevertheless, the more zealous among the rabbinical students continued expressing their opposition against Leon and B., and both had to endure shame, reproach and severe persecution.

Leon’s mother suffered much because of the reproach brought upon the family, yet remained unchanged in her devotion to the son of her hope, which was a great consolation to him. To Leon’s surprise, the rebuke of his austere father, when he was summoned home, was much less than he had anticipated. Very wisely he took a different attitude toward the episode with the book, minimizing its significance.

Instead, he manifested his indignation and protest to all who dared to humiliate him, by misjudging and ill‑treating his son. This was wise of him and Leon was really thankful for that.

For the sake of the future of his son, Leon’s father decided to move to a distant place. By moving the entire family, he not only took Leon away from his current environment, but also established a new home for all of his loved ones. In this new place Leon found a better opportunity for proceeding with his studies, both rabbinical and secular. The progress he had made thus far spurred his ambitions for more and speedier advancements. The vigilance of the father, however, who watched his son closely, was sometimes too much for Leon. Father wanted to know all associates and colleagues his son had made in the new town. It looked a lot like distrust, and Leon became resentful.

His resentment was typical of all young men under parental scrutiny. There was ample reason for distrust, because Leon secretly, through correspondence, maintained his friendship with B., from whom he learned, to his dismay, that after B. obtained his rabbinical diploma, he decided not to accept any call from any congregation, because this move would not comply with his present views. Leon understood that his friend’s interest in the “forbidden book” was more than mere curiosity.