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Kitabı oku: «Simon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch. Two Stories of Jewish Life», sayfa 13

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The engagement was celebrated privately. On the evening of its announcement, when the family was gathered together, the Geheimrat, who had feared Hugo's impetuous disposition, and who now saw him consent so joyously, gave him a great surprise, too. This day on which his daughter was to be made so happy, should also be of special significance to his son. He announced to Hugo that he was ready to interest himself in the colonies in Palestine, and to help them financially. With overflowing gratefulness Hugo flung his arms about his father, and kissed and fondled his mother. Rita and Victor declared that they regarded this decision as their finest betrothal gift.

Hugo was happy. "Then I may dedicate myself entirely to these aims? When I have passed my final examinations?" he said, half in question and half in decision.

Mr. Benas frowned slightly: "That means I must give not only my millions but also my son to the cause?" The words sounded good-humored, yet as though he were making fun of himself. "That is building Utopia at heavy expense to me."

"Zion, father, Zion, wherever it may be."

"Noblesse oblige," Mrs. Benas interrupted. "That was the lesson of our visit to Uncle Leopold's, those memorable days under the shelter of the Patriarch."

"Mamma is right," said Victor. "And if all Jews thought and acted as you have done, dear father, then happiness and hope would find lodging even among the unfortunate members of our persecuted race, and blessings would spring up. Where? Well, the world is so big and so great… Civilization is so eager to conquer, and Israel so persistent and enduring."

His tone was cordial, convincing, and soothing.

Involuntarily Rita stepped to his side, and he drew her gently to him.

"And he who speaks thus, father, is – "

"He is the fiancé of our daughter, of your sister, Hugo," Mr. Benas quickly interrupted.

* * *

It was spring time. In beauty and splendor the spring had taken possession of the earth! In youth, joy, and glory everything seemed changed, and awakened to new life by the sweet kisses of the sun. Lovers are peculiarly sensitive to such joy. Entranced, Rita and Victor were looking out from the terrace of the house upon the park, which, in its green attire, lay before them in Easter splendor. Victor had taken Rita's hand, and held it in silent happiness.

Hugo approached them with two open letters in his hand.

"Mother said I should find you here."

"Is it not beautiful here, Hugo?" asked his sister. "At this time of the year Berlin always seems wonderful to me, especially out here. How glorious it is!"

He paid no attention to her remarks and said: "I looked for you to show you these letters, one from Henry, and the other…" He looked at one of the letters. "Elkish informs me that he has decided to retire."

Her expression became sad: "We might have foreseen that," she said in a low voice.

"He wishes to return with his sister to his home in Lissa."

"What does father say?"

"He feels he must accept the resignation, and will, of course, allow him a proper pension."

Victor had listened in silence to the conversation between sister and brother.

"Is he an old retainer of your house?"

Rita nodded assent.

"Is he going because I have come? Does his fanaticism drive him away?"

"Perhaps, but may be he is worn out."

It was apparent from the tone of her voice that she herself had no faith in her reassuring words.

"O no," said Hugo, "he goes because he can no longer comprehend us, so he writes, and he does not wish to make the leave-taking hard, therefore…"

"He does not wish to see me again?" Rita cried out in pain.

Superiority was sharply expressed in his countenance, strong self-consciousness, untempered by sympathy. Rita looked at Weilen as though to beg his pardon, while Hugo's serious eyes gazed into vacancy. For several minutes there was silence, then Dr. Weilen asked: "And what does your friend Rosenfeld write?"

Hugo breathed freely, as if a burden had been lifted from off his soul. "He! He wishes you joy from the bottom of his heart. He is delighted to hear that Rita is happy." Then he looked over the letter as if searching for a particular passage. "Here: 'I thank you for the news of your sister's engagement. Such a girl's choice can only bring happiness, and make her happy; for truth and purity are united in her, and such natures as hers are sure to find what is right. What little I know of Dr. Weilen warrants this assurance. Dr. Weilen seems to me a man of deep insight and fine feeling, in whom strength and tenderness go together – qualities desirable in the husband of a highly intellectual woman like Rita. Devout in her tender soul and tolerant in her clear head, that is her personality. Her mission is to minister to the happiness of one individual. But as for us, we must think of the common weal, and to it we will dedicate our strength and our blood. And now let us set forth on the road, even though it be wearisome. Let us be up and doing… Let us labor in behalf of our co-religionists." He folded the letter. "Yes, that shall be our mission."

Mr. and Mrs. Benas had stepped into the door and stood looking at their children. They had overheard Hugo's last words, and they appreciated the solemnity of the moment. And the consummation of their hopes was glorified by the soft, golden radiance of the spring.

GLOSSARY

(All words given below, unless otherwise specified, are Hebrew. The transliteration aims to reproduce the colloquial pronunciation of Hebrew words by German Jews.)

Al Chet. "For the sin," beginning of a confession of sins.

Amhorez. Ignoramus.

Amrazim. Plural of the previous word. Ignoramuses.

Baal-Milchomoh. Soldier.

Baale-Batim. Householders. Substantial and respectable members of the community, who contribute to its support.

Bar-Mitzvah. Religious majority, at the age of thirteen, when a Jewish lad is expected to take all religious duties upon himself.

Bekovet. Honorable; dignified.

Besomim. Spices, used at the ceremony of Habdalah, marking the end of the Sabbath.

Boruch ha-Shem. "Blessed be the Name" (of God).

Charoseth. A mixture of apples, raisins, wine, cinnamon, etc., used at the Seder, symbolic of the mortar which the Israelites prepared in Egypt.

Chas ve-Sholem. "Mercy and peace." Heaven forbid!

Chavrusseh. Society; company.

Chazen. Cantor; precentor.

Chochmes. Wise ideas; oversubtle notions.

Chometz batteln. To do away with all leaven (before Passover).

Chutzpeh. Arrogance; audacity; impudence.

Davvening (?). Reciting the prayers of the liturgy.

Evadde. Assuredly; certainly.

Fromm (Ger.). Pious; observant (of religions and ritual ceremonies).

Gemoreh. The Talmud.

Get. A bill of divorce.

Goy. A non-Jew.

Khille. Jewish congregation; Jewish community.

Kiddush. Sanctification; the ceremony ushering in the Sabbath or a holiday.

Kosher. Ritually permitted.

Maaseh. A story; an anecdote.

Mah nishtaneh ha-Layloh hazeh. "What distinguishes this night" (from all other nights); the question introducing the narrative of the Exodus from Egypt in the Seder service of the Passover nights.

Mairev. Evening service.

Malkeh. Queen.

Matzoth. Cakes of unleavened bread.

Melech. King.

Menorah. Candlestick used on Chanukkah or Sabbath.

Meshugge. Crazy.

Meshummed. Apostate.

Mikveh. Ritual bath.

Minchah. Afternoon service.

Minyan. A company of ten men, the minimum for a public service.

Mishpocheh. Family in the wider sense; collateral branches as well as direct descendants; kin.

Mogen Dovid. "The Shield of David." A Jewish emblem.

Narronim. (Ger. with Heb. ending). Fools.

Nebbich. (Slavic). An expression of pity. Poor thing! Too bad!

Omed. Reading desk of the cantor in the synagogue.

Oser. "Forbidden." Expression of defiance: You bet I won't; I'd like to catch myself, etc.

Oshamnu bogadnu. "We have trespassed, we have dealt deceitfully." First two words in the alphabetic confession of sins.

Ovinu Malkenu. "Our Father, our King." Beginning of the lines of a well-known prayer. See next word.

Ovinu Malkenu chosvenu be-Sefer Parnossoh ve-Chalkoloh. "Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of sustenance and maintenance." One line of a well-known prayer.

Parchonim. Riff-raff; small fry; vermin.

Pesach. Feast of Unleavened Bread; Passover.

Pleitegeher. (Heb. and Ger.). An habitual bankrupt.

Posheh Yisroel. "A sinner in Israel"; one who disregards the ceremonial law of Judaism.

Rav. Officiating rabbi.

Rebbetzin. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Wife of the officiating rabbi.

Roshekol. Head of the Jewish community.

Seder. Home service on the first two nights of the Passover.

Shabbes. Sabbath.

Shabbes Goy. A non-Jew engaged, often by all the families in a Jewish congregation, to do work forbidden the Jew on the Sabbath, such as kindling a fire, etc.

Shadchen. Marriage broker.

Shammes. Verger; beadle; sexton.

Sheitel (Ger.). A covering for the head, to hide the hair of a married Jewess.

Shem Yisborach. "The Name (of God) be blessed."

Shema Yisroel. "Hear, O Israel"; beginning of the Jewish confession of faith.

Shicksel. (Heb. with Ger. suffix). Drastic expression for a non-Jewish girl.

Shikker. Habitual drunkard.

Shiveh. "Seven" days of mourning, immediately after a death occurs in a family.

Shivoh oser be-Tamuz. "Seventeenth Day of Tamuz"; a fast day commemorating the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who took the Temple itself three weeks later.

Shnorrers (Ger.). Beggars.

Sholosh Sudes. The third meal on the Sabbath.

Shul (Ger.). Synagogue.

Shulchan Oruch. The Jewish code of ritual laws, etc.

Sukkoth. Feast of Tabernacles.

Talles. Prayer-scarf.

Talmid Chochom. A Jewish scholar, learned specifically in Jewish lore.

Tashlich. "Thou wilt cast"; ceremony connected with the afternoon of the first day of New Year, and observed at a running stream or at the seashore.

Trefa. Ritually unfit for food.

Tzores. Trials; tribulations.

Waigeschrieen (Ger.). Woe is me.

Yevorechecho Adonay ve-yishmerecho. "May the Lord bless thee and keep thee."