Bubbe's Place: Stories

Choosing a Rabbi

In the shtetle (small town) Jews were very pious. They lived their lives by the laws of the Torah. The rabbi was their religious leader. He was also their judge and mediator. No Jew would willingly go to the town’s Christian courts or police. Therefore the choosing of a rabbi was a very serious and important matter. People took firm stands on the nominees.

When Menashe was a young boy the synagogue had to hire a new rabbi. Menashe’s father, Israel, was a very pious man. Israel’s grandfather Joseph had been a rabbi of this synagogue and his father had been a cantor. Israel was involved in selecting the new rabbi.

The selection was not being made easily. Tempers were running high. Suddenly a blow was struck and then another. Tova Gubenko’s cousin dove out the window. After all he was just a visitor and not really involved. As he flew through the open window, his pants remained behind, securely snagged on a nail.

Israel Korostoshevski picked up the seven-branched menorah (candelabrum) to make a point and brought it crashing down on the head of a determined opponent. This moment of passion cost the fellow his hearing in one ear, Israel was ordered to pay his victim 75 rubles. That was an enormous amount of money.

Who was chosen rabbi? No one remembers.