My memoirs. Volume second. Chapter 16-17.

Kobrin → Outstanding persons

Chapter 16
Again pulls me at way. - Contract with Shemet. - My relative from Kiev. - I sing a horse. - The plan to go to Kiev. - My grandfather. - At Shemet. - Lectures of the grandfather. - I sell everything. - Only Kiev. - Trip. - First greeting. - Round-ups. - I lie under a bed. - Fear. - Crying. - Despair and repentance. - The arrested Jew.
After Shloymele's departure I began to think of leaving these backwoods seriously. With the landowner Shemet I had a contract for three years. Actually at it it was possible to sit eternally. Just it had a custom - to sign with each tenant the contract for three years, and then if lived longer, it already from anybody moreover did not take.
So I could live in Koshelev, I how many I wanted, even after Shemet's death. The daughter it did not want to change too tradition as did not want to sell a manor so far. I had the income too.
Having got used, maybe, I felt better there. But just by then, when I began to think of that, to get out as if of Koshelev, my brother-in-law Aron Tseylingold moved from Pinsk to Kiev. This city then began to attract to itself Jews strongly.
Alexander the Second era not really interfered with it, and many Jews gathered in Kiev. The river Dnieper was nearly the place around which Jews gathered. Being engaged, generally in trade in grain, Jews brought on this river grain to Ekaterinoslav, Nikolaev, Kremenchuk, etc.
And gradually Kiev took the second place in the Jewish trade in general. It was not absolutely free, however. The police often suited well-known Kiev "round-ups" which and until now, unfortunately, did not become easier. But after all the Jew could exist. Because the question was one: and where it is better?
Handicraftsmen and so could live and trade. And it was not difficult to be enlisted in handicraftsmen at all. Anyone - the glazier, the manufacturer of ink and vinegar - if only the handicraftsman. Merchants of the first and second guilds by itself had the right of a residence. So great police success of a round-up was not made, and Jews, thank God, lived much easier and better, than now.
At the worst, greased the palm something …. Old Jewish means. And other Jews extracted permission by means of cooking. Well, what Jew or the Jew cannot prepare a krupnik with a piece of meat? And so it also went. And Kiev turned into a big Jewish community with trade, affairs, craft, etc.
My brother-in-law arrived to Kiev with a family and opened a good inn there. The wife conducted an inn, and it had another matters. Favorable affairs then in Kiev was be filled up.
My brother-in-law considered that in Koshelev I do gold things, and was not going to move me to Kiev at all. So it happened that the house of his father in Pinsk burned down. He went to Pinsk to receive money on an insurance - three thousand rubles. Being in Pinsk, at the same time decided to come to us in Koshelevo, being nearby. Specially wanted to arrive without the prevention to capture us for most that the N is ordinary life.
And, apparently, took …
There are I somehow in the evening on Friday and sing at a well of horses: I pour from a well water in a trough, and three horses stand and drink. And this minute the brother-in-law imperceptibly approaches. The moment watches how I sing horses, and is removed …
Already later, when we sat in the room, he all did not cease to be surprised how it to me, the young man spending a lot of time in a bet-midrasha it is necessary to look after horses. Even only to get water from a deep well and to pour in a trough - already it seemed to it strange.
"And I thought, - he told, - that you - the sleepy creation capable only to write me long letters in elevated style. But all this is not for you. Let's go with me to Kiev, you will be engaged in favorable business".
And he began to tell a story about hundreds of Jews who arrived to Kiev literally "without boots" and for several years become rich men with a fortune in hundreds of thousands of rubles. In Kiev it is possible to grow rich quickly, on one leg.".
It is clear, that the brother-in-law easily finished us, and after his departure we decided to be through as soon as possible with Koshelev and to go to Kiev.
I quickly undertook it. Several months prior to New year I realized everything, gradually sold cows, calfs, bulls, horses, sheep, hay, etc. property - without looking at the price, quickly stuffing goods - if only to terminate everything somewhat quicker.
Having sold out, I asked the grandfather to go with me to the landowner that with him to settle everything. For the landowner it was surprise. He considered that I will sit and sit in Koshelev. The grandfather arrived, and I was through with the landowner too.
The landowner told the grandfather:
"Your grandson does big nonsense, refusing Koshelev. It to it very much costs little. I for the estate was given 1200 rubles for a long time. But I hate to repeat. And I thought that I, maybe, will lease to your grandson the estate later. I am already old, and I cannot be engaged in such things any more. Your grandson - the honest person … But - he does not want, he hurries, he runs from there. So the way runs on health.
"You want to hand over your estate?" - the grandfather Made attempt.
"Well and", - the old landowner nodded.
"So he - will not go! - firmly the grandfather told, - he will remain here".
"Is not present … - became angry Shemet, - now - no. Now he does not suit me. Time wanted to leave - it for me not the tenant any more.
The grandfather flew into a rage.
"What is it? - He told me then with heart, - you look for good luck. The robber, you want to be rich!"
And he could not calm down in any way:
"What you so attracts in the city? What is, your way, the city? There overstrain and killed for the sake of cheap earnings. You will see, you still will regret about koshelevsky trees. - such landowner to lose such landowner! You know - that they are to look for in the city of earnings? - He impaled me with eyes. God grant, that it was a lie - but you still learn it when you are to tear the hair!"
I, however, did not listen to the grandfather - let says how many wants. And I will go to Kiev. The big city, is a lot of people, is with whom to talk, argue, have a talk about lofty matters. Koshelevo - not for me.
The grandfather left afflicted, and I finished with the rural economy. When everything was sold, sent the family to Kobrin where the wife with children will wait until I settle, and one went to Kiev.
I arrived to Kiev on Friday morning and with pleasure met the brother-in-law who held an inn on the bank of Dnieper. Having arrived to it, I right there noticed that a look at it not really cheerful. At all not that joyful look that was in Koshelev. And when I asked from where I such change, received the answer that Weinstein for six and a half million rubles and as this bankruptcy turned all Kiev, whom only this Weinstein did not mention went bankrupt in the winter! Except big banks, it ruined individuals more, than on three million.
My brother-in-law in this sea of bankruptcy drowned three thousand rubles cash. Also lost on it business, bringing it up to five thousand rubles a year. Now, already, when I arrived to Kiev, all affairs, thank God, in the earth, and trade in Kiev - in ruins, at the brother-in-law did not remain any affairs, except an inn. To live with one it is difficult, in particular, having got used to wide life.
At my nadezha - pretty welcome! The most suitable time to arrive to Kiev! Was, here it - I! Kiev waits for me.
Koshelevo was changed for the big city. Here to you Kiev. And right there, one minute, I fell into awful despair, into melancholy, precisely, as the able to see person who suddenly went blind. What did I do? As I took it and wasted solid economy!? How I will hold on? What I will live with the wife and children now with? And in general - as I, the rural Jew, was to look for, than to be engaged to the big, noisy city? To whom do I am necessary here? Who waits for me here? Who me, the such treasure - here will grab?
My despair, apparently, set so far that it was noticed house, and my brother-in-law undertook me.
"First of all, - he told, - be a man. You did not suffer from the Kiev bankrupt. So what you despair? Perhaps the Lord will just help you with Kiev?"
And in the evening it me to amuse, carried in shtibl karlinsky Hasidim. In the shtibl it was cheerful, and my despair passed. Evreychiki was clapped in palms, pritopyvat legs and joyfully met the Sabbath. I already weaned from such noise. And it seemed to me that walls clap too and sing "let's rejoice".
I ceased to long. We with the brother-in-law cheerfully sang houses "crazy aleykhy", and at a table seated the company of Jews in twenty persons among whom there were large merchants, rich shopkeepers, the famous brokers, etc.
At a table - light-, candles, on white plates - fine pieces of fish burn, read kidush, sit down to eat and there is a long conversation.
But about what speak? Oh, my God, - about a round-up!
The police is enough Jews! Actually is enough!
What means - is enough?
Still I knew that Jews live in misery, suffer, bear on themselves heavy, bitter burden, but that there are enough Jews as well - it I did not know at all. At me even sweat on a forehead acted. The police is enough Jews. Actually is enough!
"You do not know what means when are enough? - one Jew addressed me, having noticed, apparently, what put it for me new. - Last year here, directly in the middle of Kol-nidre, grabbed the whole synagogue of Jews. You understand? Synagogue of Jews …"
"Means - the Jew has no right here to live, has to hide?" - I asked uncertainly and somehow silly, feeling at the same time as scolded me to bones.
"And you what thought? Of course, he has to hide …"
Here I absolutely became gloomy. And me it was thought that the brother-in-law made me unfortunate, just without knife killed. What he in Koshelev did not tell me that in Kiev are enough Jews? I would not arrive for millions, for billions here. Are enough Jews!!!
In the head to me the most awful thoughts climbed.
"Why you dragged me here?" - I asked somehow with bitterness of the brother-in-law.
"Sha, be not afraid, - the brother-in-law became puzzled, - we paid the police officer, he already received the and does not cling. At us are not enough … And if there is at us a round-up, then for the next day release as the police officer received the. Directly in a hand …"
Then I noticed that people over me simply laugh.
"Of what you so are afraid? - one guest addressed me somehow, - you are Jew, and the Jew has to be accustomed to such things …"
And here some of them told me that they more than once came across, more than once spent the night in prison - and, thank God, are living. Anything - to the Messiah still far. For now it is necessary to spend the night sometimes in prison and to pay money.
Audience started singing as though they were in Jerusalem. I gritted teeth and solved: come what may.
It is obvious, however, that to Kiev with me not one was my own to a zloschastya, and many millions. And Kiev long did not wait and allowed me to taste all pleasures of a round-up soon.
Exactly in eleven, directly in the middle of tsimmes which just was very successful the loud call was heard. Called a sure hand as the guest does not call, and all with pomertvely persons jumped from places.
"Round-up!" - hushfully escaped at someone.
Jews who so safely spoke before about round-ups, here, in the middle of tsimmes became puzzled. The sister-in-law my, very business woman, seized me by a hand and whispered:
"Let's go rather. Round-up. I will hide you".
Runs and pulls me by a hand. And all run - rich men, dear Jews, brokers, merchants. Real panic flight. Apparently, it is not so easy to be imprisoned as they spoke.
The sister-in-law flew with me in a bedroom. Brought to a bed and ordered to get under it:
"Climb, climb, do not hesitate".
Representative Jews, however, were quicker than me. They already all lay under beds. And - I got too. Lying there, I heard heavy puffing lying under the next beds. Heard also as their hearts knock. And only I one - on the contrary: was afraid not so strongly. I for this purpose somehow had no time.
Strange picture. Jews with beautiful beards lie under beds, fathers of families, respectable merchants also snuffle as geese when they want to drink.
Having pricked up properly ears, I hear how the police goes a stump on those rooms and speaks by rough voices …
Look for, I think, and, perhaps, will find. Will pull out the company of respectable Jews from under a bed.
This time, however, the round-up ended absolutely easily as the "good" police officer carried out it. At the same time it was one. But as he had to seize someone, for the sake of appearances decided to seize the poor Jew hidden by the sister-in-law. It is possible that this Jew was specially employed for such role …
After their leaving we got out from under beds … Looked very beautifully - with dirty noses, with a web and spots of dust on Saturday clothes.
Here I was attacked by fear, and I without ceremony in a voice burst into tears. I understood that these tears - superfluous, silly. And a round-up - not a terrible thing, and the Jew should not cry, especially, in a voice. Probably, it looked in a disgusting way and silly. I think that my sister-in-law, having seen my tears, regretted even more that I arrived. All night long they pottered with me. I could not calm down in any way. The brother-in-law applied all means, but they did not help. And such state at me proceeded till the morning. I could not do anything is, to drink, and heart gnawed something and gnawed.
I was transferred to guests - that those calmed me. They told me true-life stories of millionaires and pottered with me, as with the child. The sister-in-law brought from a site of the poor Jew.
"You will think, trifles what!" - it boasted, having returned.
"You see, - the sister-in-law laughed over me, - the person in prison sat - and does not cry!"
"What did you tell there?", - I asked the Jew.
"Told that arrived today and right there I go back …", - the Jew answered absolutely quietly.
I looked at it and thought: everything was gone. What can I do now? And than I am better than this Jew? He suffers, the poor creature, for the sake of earnings, well, and I will suffer. And I began to console myself violently. I did not know that I should feel the real fear in Kiev just, and this, present - nothing before that, future when I enough to myself tear heart and I will cry at ease big tears.

Chapter 17
I look for shop. - Sudden flood. - The wife and children - at the height of a flood. - There is already a shop. - Big regrets. - Disasters. - Christians. - Affairs of Christians. - Life among Jews and Russians. - Andreevsky descent. - Jews from round-ups. - The Lithuanian Jew in Kiev. - My duty. - Reb Labe of Shapiro. - Police officer Mikhaylov. - Madam Rosenberg. - Reb Girsh Epstein. - Reb Moyshe-Itskhok Levin.
There passed Saturday, week began, and I calmed down a little. And having a little calmed down, began to look for business. There were different plans, and one good acquaintance of the brother-in-law suggested me to become the partner of the local dealer in grain, to go and buy up grain, as will be my business. Advised me to remain so far in Kiev to one and if business goes and will be decent income - to call the wife with children.
But I was young and silly and one did not want to live in Kiev, without family. "High" and of course I explained with silly words that I want to be a father to the children and the good husband - the wife that they should not live without me.
As groceries - one of the main branches of trade, I decided to remove grocery store for the wife. She will sit in shop, and I will be engaged in another matters. My brother-in-law objected too against I brought the wife. And of course it was right.
I, however, did not obey, and, the charter to argue with me, he asked the familiar broker to find to me shop.
I ordered to sell to the wife all house utensils and to Pesakh to arrive to Kiev. However - it is easy to tell, but it is difficult to make, especially, to such lucky man as I - spread just at this time Dnieper, and streets of several areas filled in - just where there lived Jews.
Residents of Kiev in recent years will not remember such flood. Half filled in the inn of my relatives standing near the coast. All houses in this area appeared in water, and people on streets moved by boats.
Hundreds of people were ruined. Rolled on attics with children, is there was nothing. It is clear, that beggars as the flood in particular captured the region of beggars and Jews most of all suffered.
Removing shop for the wife, there could not be already a speech. I was dragged on streets for days on end, observing big flood. For me it was a new experience. In water benches, boards for cutting of noodles, little tables, rocking chairs and other house utensils floated.
As it is told, I wrote even earlier to the wife that she arrived. The practical person, seeing such flood, right there would send other letter - that it did not come. I, however, did not make it, and in the heat of a flood, with three small kids - it arrived. With great difficulty I somehow dragged them in the house of the brother-in-law. The top floor was not flooded.
The third child was still a crumb, and I him had to carry by on hands a decent piece - all coast as no crew could pass there.
I made the way on the boards and logs laid through water and shivered, God forbid, not to fall down together with the chicken in water. Feeling like at the same time the fool and a pettiness: to drag here the wife at the height of a flood!
With great difficulty we overcame the sea of water. Hardly worried these difficult days. And after Pesakh began to look for vigorously shop together with the apartment that in Kiev meets very often.
It happened to buy us shop together with goods from one Jew living on the Christian street. It is clear, that the Jew had affairs very badly there - who will come to buy to him there where Jews - such rarity? On the other hand - why to the Jew to buy such shop? But as the true Menakhem-Mendel1 - lost, excited, excited - took I and bought shop.
Having bought shop, I right there saw that his owner simply well cheated me. The goods did not cost the money paid for it at all. And it especially broke off heart.
In one fine morning we moved to the apartment located in the neighbourhood with shop. From the apartment an entrance to shop. In several days it became clear that with shop - a problem. Also does not smell of the buyer. Anybody! Though sit and look at walls.
And here the difficult period - with regrets, torments, with disappointment, with cardiac pain, with torments which are more noticeable and painful in the big city, than in the village began.
I already look for other income. I got acquainted with rich Jews, turned near them - can, something from this will leave. But there was nothing. The only thing on what I could be useful to them - was a broking, but on it, unlike Menakhem-Mendel, I was incapable.
For this purpose it is necessary to be idle, false, talkative, and my language still was naive and innocent - or silly.
Situation was heavy. Without having what to do, and is not able to sit in shop without buyers, I walked the streets and watched how there live non Jews. From time to time covered envy. They lived unusually richly, unusually purely. Their shops shone. It was very pleasant to buy something from the non Jew.
Only you will enter into the non Jewish shop, right there the owner will take off a hat with a polite smile, does not stick to the buyer with talk, in general speaks quietly, quietly calls the price, does not snatch, and the clean, sparkling fingers shows a subject necessary to the buyer.
From such address the buyer relaxes, feels trust to the seller and seldom leaves empty-handed shop.
In my time Russians were very skillful dealers and exclusively well ran business.
Of course, they were not such honest as it seemed. To buy from it big transport with goods was sometimes even risky. And even the contract did not guarantee against anything. Regularly resorted to any tricks, and the contract, eventually, had no force here.
But so happened only to big transport of goods. It is clear, that not all merchants were such. Would be to consider a sin so. I knew many honest, very solid Christian merchants, dealers, sellers.
Jews with Russians very well lived though the Russian sometimes could just like that, take and tell without any evil:
"The kike is damned!"
Just like that, for nothing
The food in Kiev cost little very much, and people ate! Russians ate much, and Jews there is a lot of too. Russians, besides, poured into themselves vodka as water.
I remember also that uncountablly ate olives - fruit to which it was necessary to get used.
At first, as soon as arrived, I it am could not, I felt sick. But then, gradually, got used and very much fell in love.
Paid for housing usually absolutely cheap, householders had still no such force as here, in Warsaw. If the resident did not pay a rent, he was not thrown out right there, as in "small Paris". The owner waited: can be, there can be he after all will pay!
And usually the owner was not mistaken and did not sustain a loss. The poor resident eventually paid. In five years that I lived in Kiev, I did not see and did not hear that the owner threw out the resident for failure to pay lodging money. And with confidence I can tell that at ampler opportunities of the Warsaw owners in sense of operation of the residents, the Kiev residents have to money to the owners less, than in Warsaw.
The Kiev Jews kept with Lithuanian Jews cold. Such at Lithuanian Jews destiny.
Special harm did not come from it. Lithuanian Jews tried not to pay attention and did very good things there. From bet-midrashy the best and worthy was Lithuanian, and the best-known rabbi - too Lithuanian. The Lithuanian Jews of course played a large role in the city, and rich Jews of other sectors were more betrayed to interests of the people, than.
There lived in my time in Kiev one Lithuanian rich man - reb Labe Shapiro. There was it from Minsk. In Kiev he owned soap-producing factory. He was a big philanthropist, and had the open house for all lonely.
And he, and his wife showed great attention to vagrant Jews, taken in police raids. Many Jews were pulled out by them from gloomy Kiev prisons and returned home. It is clear, that such light and lovely Lithuanian Jew as reb Labe Shapiro, was not one in Kiev. Near my shop at Andreevsky descent just saw off all seized Jews after they provalyalis night in a site. They were conducted to the chief of police. From there sent on a stage home. In crowd of arrested old Jews, women, cripples and little girls prevailed. My duty was - to wait when arrested are spent by my shop and to put off to "the senior policeman" couple of kopeks for what it allowed me to pass together a certain distance with arrested. I learned meanwhile their names and addresses which right there transferred to the house reb Shapiro.
To care about caught during a round-up was at that time one of the main cares of the Kiev Jews. Everything was already fulfilled - the Jew cannot but help the seized Jew …
From the house reb Labe Shapiro right there ran to the Podolsk police officer Mikhaylov, put to it a coin and did that it is necessary. Every day to receive on a paw - not a trifle, and said that the police officer Mikhaylov "is filled by gold".
At the same time the famous rich man Rosenberg, the father-in-law of the baron Ginzburg, open two cheap Jewish dining rooms. In these dining rooms there was a big need since on all city wandered many beggars who did not have any haven who were regularly called for lunch.
Very attractive woman was to mothers Rosenberg. It was the philanthropist with truly warm heart, rather merciful.
Every day it came from the Khreshchatyk on the Hem to the cheap dining room - in the elegant carriage harnessed by couple of horses with the footman. The beautiful box from below was attached to the carriage.
In the dining room it from different persons: the poor, impoverished intellectuals ruined dealers, the crippled workers, starving brokers, etc. - received written requests and put them in a box. These requests gathered in advance and were confirmed by the Lithuanian rabbi.
For example - someone has to leave and has on it no means. He writes something like that a request, and the rabbi whom he addresses for confirmation, finds out from it whether really it is going to go and has for this purpose no means. And right there sets the seal on a request.
After that that goes to the cheap dining room and gives madam Rosenberg's request. Houses of madam looks through requests and everyone is already given help.
Much it was helped reb Israel by Brodsky. Brodsky's house in general then was the house of a blagotvoreniye and work on advantage of society.
But very much, Girsh Epstein was very remarkable reb. It had a heart of gold. It was the Jew to whom poverty, misfortunes and cares of the neighbor literally did not allow to eat, drink and sleep. It had not enough money, but was able to bring together them and in an amicable way, quietly and secretly to divide among persons in need.
It was the Jew about whom it is really possible to tell that the trouble of the neighbor was his own trouble, and need of the neighbor - his own need. For the sake of the neighbor he did not know rest, and the Kiev Jews, even the Kiev "people of air" from poor streets, it appears, have to remember it from generation to generation.
And there is a lot more, many kind, good, warm-hearted Kiev Jews come me back to memory, but who can count all of them? Where to take for this purpose the place and time?
I can tell one - that during the stay in Kiev I managed to recognize fair number of kind, hot and worthy Jews who lived beautifully and died beautifully and were betrayed to the people before the last breath as courageous and gallant soldiers.
But how not to remember how to pass such interesting and dear Jew what was reb Moyshe-Itskhok Levin! Now, when the desertion and assimilation run the gloomy and tiresome show on the Jewish street, it comes back to memory, still light and easy, still warm and close …
This reb Moyshe-Itskhok Levin generally was from Carlin, and he comes me because of the capable son, reb Shmul Levin who was living in Kiev and being one of the best Kiev public figures back to memory.
The father reb Shmulya, reb Moyshe-Itskhok Levin, distributed a handout on the left and to the right and in some cities built the Talmud Torah. To the Talmud Torahs it had special weakness. To take poor kids in the house, to put on them, to dress, in time to feed and learn - was for it the highest pleasure.
It is clear, that such pleasure costed much. And his pupils from the Talmud Torah did not go torn off as happened in the Jewish town in those days. No - they were well put and dressed, and hungry expression of their pale faces absolutely disappeared.
In a synagogue at reb Moyshe-Itskhoka stood a box for requests on a table, and every day, taking off from himself a talliet and tfilin, he addressed a box … There is nothing to say that cared for requests.
And strange thing: in affairs reb Moyshe-Itskhok was very firm. Did not miss a bean. The one who with it traded had a rough time.
It seemed that in it two persons sit: one - cruel - for affairs, and another - silk, directly an angel - for the …
But it is possible that it was cruel in affairs for this purpose to have an opportunity to be an angel for the - for poor boys the Talmud Torah, for the exhausted, broken hearts and for the real charitable establishments?
In case of failure in affairs, it was so expressed:
"Nothing, my people will help me …"
There was at it a fire once, and it paternally consoled all:
"Nothing, my people to me will extinguish …"
His people - it were hundreds of pupils the Talmud Torah, the uneasy, wandering Jews throwing to it hundreds of requests into a box on a table, large charitable establishments, etc.
"Do not worry, my people will help me", - was its favourite expression.
And his people were true and grateful to it. On the fire Jews as bees ran together - and extinguished.
Somehow at reb Moyshe-Itskhoka stole the huge sum of paper money. Having heard about it, he absolutely quietly declared:
"Do not worry, my people will find loss …"
On its good luck of thieves soon found together with money - any trifle was not enough. It then triumphed:
"Well, you see how my people care for me? You see, see?"
And it inspired in all that will always pay for good good, and the proof - found loss …
It is clear, that for those times the help to the Kiev Jewish poor was very well organized. In the winter all Kiev beggars were provided with firewood and bread. In Pesakh a lot of money was distributed on purchase of matzo, and poor people could sit at a table quietly.
Before the holiday to kind Epstein was to live already once. Ran all over in turn donators, showed the account - how much it is necessary as "team" of beggars is big, extorted money as water, and distributed as water.
Girsh Epstein was able to give to the poor reb especially beautifully. The giving hand reb could never offend Epstein feelings of the poor, the poor's eyes …
It is very difficult and very rare thing. It is not enough one kindness. To it still it is necessary to have big heart and a lot of internal beauty, that is - ability to feel thinly.
Therefore I consider that among very many beautiful large Jews in Kiev in my time, - Girsh Epstein was the finest gold, warm reb …

1 Character of the story of the same name of Sholem Aleichem, sample of the loser.
 



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