From The Wedding by Joseph Levine Chapter 7

From The Wedding
by Joseph Levine

Chapter 7

When I went to shul with my father all the boys davened along with the men.

I would sneak my sled that I made out of the house so my mother wouldn't see that Zelig and I were going out to the fields, where we would sled for hours. When I would come home the house would be 'Shabbosdik', nice and clean, shining in every corner. You could smell the Holy Sabbath throughout the whole house. My father would be all dressed for Sabbath and ready for shul. My mother would light the candles on the table, which was set with a white table cloth and the chalahs would be in their place and the kiddush cup ready for kiddush.

Going to shul with our fathers Friday nights was very exciting for us boys. It instilled in us a strong feeling of love for our parents. What a great pleasure it was for us to be holding the siddurim -prayer books- and finding the page for "L'echu Neranenah" without any assistance from our fathers, and saying the prayers with their proper "Nigun" -tune- just like the big people in shul!

Happily, lively and joyously our "Gut Shabbos" greetings would ring when my father and I would return home from shul after 'Davening'. 'Shalom Aliechem', 'Ashes Chayel', Kiddush, the Shabbos songs and the benching (grace after meals) would be just as wonderful.

Shabbos mornings were just as happy. Going and coming from shul with my father, the Shabbos meal, the 'cholent' and kugel and again the singing and benching, all added to the enchantment of Shabbos.

Shabbos afternoon we would go to Cheder not for our regular learning classes, but for a lecture in Jewish ethics and morals. Later in the day after spending time at

home, resting, reading or visiting we would go to shul again for Shabbos 'Mincha' service which is soon followed by 'Maariv'.

The following morning, Sunday, we would again go back to our usual schedule at cheder.

So I spent six years of learning with my 'Rebbe'. We completed 'Bava Kama' & 'Bava M'zea' both Talmudic books. I knew the entire Bible and all the Haphtorahs by heart.

Then I graduated to a higher level of learning. With a Rebbe teaching on a higher level and charging a level higher too. My first Rebbe had twelve in a class and my second had only eight so the difference had to be met. My father didn't earn any more nevertheless he didn't feel it was a burden to pay the Rebbe.

My second Rebbe's name was Reb Yaakov Laizer. He was a nice looking short man. He wasn't any taller than his students. He had a big head with big eyes, a lovely smile that seemed to draw our interest in learning. With his clear sounding voice he would teach and explain the most difficult tractates. He didn't like too many question and answer periods. He taught with a clear logic, this was his ideology and life. I learned with Reb Laizer for two years, one year before my Bar Mitzvah and one after.

I went to Daven in shul every morning and when the 15th of Elul arrived I started putting on T'fillin. It was on a Thursday. When the Ritual Director 'Shamas' noticed my T'fillin he called me up to the reading of the 'Torah'. I finished davening and went off to cheder as usual. On the following Shabbos, I was again called up to the Torah, this time for Maftir. I sang the Maftir and felt very spiritual.

My father, may he rest in peace, invited my Rebbe and some close friends to our home. My mother had kiddush, cakes, and kugels prepared and everyone enjoyed.

I did not make a speech. In the old country rehearsed Bar Mitzvah speeches were not necessary, different than in America. In the old country we went to Yeshivah daily, prayed daily, and learned Torah daily not just for Bar Mitzvah celebrations.