Experience among the Jews in Hamburg
HAVING tired themselves with persecuting me, the gendarmes turned me out of the barracks, and I hastened on towards Hamburg. Arriving in that city, I was astonished at the multitudes of people walking hither and thither in the crowded streets. For a while I felt lost, knowing neither where to go nor what to do.
I was more lonely and desolate, if possible, in the city than I had been in the country. Oh! how I wished I had never been born, and again I cursed my day. Lamenting and crying, I paced the streets; no one looked upon me, and, reaching a large field, near the railway station, I wandered about it till utterly exhausted. Hungry and weary, without a friend near me in the world, I felt I was without the protection of God in heaven.
As I lamented my misery, a lady, with a little child, drew near, and asked me what my trouble was.
"I am very hungry, madam," I replied.
"Wait a little," she said, "and I will bring you something to eat.”
"Alas, I am a Jew, madam, and therefore am not permitted to eat anything made by Christians," I answered.
The lady then most kindly gave me a few marks, and also presented me with the address of a Jewish hotel. Once more the dark cloud lifted, and I felt God was merciful to me, even through the hand of a Gentile.
Before going to the hotel I determined to obtain a pair of phylacteries to replace those lost in the cornfield; for it is a matter of great importance to the Jews that every male above thirteen years of age should possess these sacred articles. Finding my way to the synagogue, I applied there for them, and my request was not in vain—a kind Jew gave me a pair at once.
In possessing again these necessaries for my devotions, my heart was filled with gratitude, and I proceeded at once to the hotel; but on arriving there, such was my poverty, that I was ashamed to enter. At last I asked permission to lodge there for the night. The manager inquired for my passport, but I had none, and could show him nothing, save my phylacteries and fringes. Finding these were perfect according to Jewish law, he came to the conclusion that I was to be trusted: added to which I prepaid my night's lodging.
In the evening I attended the synagogue, so that I might engage in public prayer with the minion (a company of not less than ten men) according to the ordinances. When in the synagogue I was most thankful to God for enabling me to reach Hamburg, and for inclining my heart to enter His sanctuary; but I was bitterly disappointed to find the mincha service over, and hence that there would be no minion in which I could engage that evening. In order to obtain the necessary number of worshippers for the minion, I went out into the street, and asked several Jews who passed by if they had already prayed, and besought those who had not done so to enter the synagogue, and engage in the service. Several came in, in response to my request—some twenty-five—and thus my desire to engage in the service was fulfilled. After the mincha was over, I remained in the synagogue till the third service (the maarive) should be celebrated. While sitting alone in the sacred building, I looked eastward and gazed upon the holy ark (Ha-aron Hakkodesh), over which the beautiful veil hung, having marked on it in letters of gold the wonderful word JEHOVAH. I washed my hands, drew near, and kissed the veil, closing my eyes, and praying in the Hebrew tongue to the Lord to be merciful to me:—"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me." (Psa. 57:1, 21<<To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.>> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 2I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. (Psalm 57:1‑2).)
As I was earnestly repeating this psalm again and again, the words of verse 10—"For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds"—especially impressed themselves upon me, and I began to pray that God would reveal His mercy and truth to me. Still I could not realize that His mercy was exercised to me; for the language of the law—"obey or perish"—was graven on my soul. What should I say unto God? There was something at that hour of which I felt ignorant, though I was convinced God would hear my prayer and satisfy my mourning soul.
Presently the congregation began to arrive in order to celebrate the service (the maarive, in which I joined, and, when it was over, I went to my lodgings. A pleasant little room had been provided for me, for which I was truly grateful; but, on entering it and looking round, I found no mzuzah on the door post. The mzuzah is a small box or case containing a piece of parchment, upon which are written some passages of the law of Moses, and, according to Jewish law, it should be placed upon the door post of the room. (See Deut. 11:2020And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: (Deuteronomy 11:20).) So I begged to be allowed to sleep in a room which had a mzuzah, and was given a room having a very nice one on the door post.
I heartily thanked the manager of the hotel for allowing me to change rooms; and, kissing the mzuzah several times, I said my prayers, thanking God for His goodness, and then fell asleep.
From Hamburg I wrote to my father as follows:—
"I never forget the happiness I used to enjoy at home. I well remember when I used to think that I was the happiest lad in the world, but since I left you, my beloved father, I have not had one hour of happiness. Sorrow and bitter trials have been my portion, and I dare say that such will be my lot till I shall be taken to the grave. I pray to God continually that He may satisfy my soul, but I never feel satisfied. The more I pray, the more wretched and miserable I feel.
“Beloved father, I really do not know what to think of religion. You used to tell me that our God hears the prayers of those that call unto Him, and, I must say, I continually pray, but, to my sorrow, God has turned away His ear from hearing me. One thing, my dear father, that I should like you to do for me is, to ask my old Rabbi to pray, and I hope that if you, and the Rabbi, and my beloved mother will pray for me, the Lord may hear your prayers for the sake of your good merits.
"My dear father, I hope you will not be troubled in your mind about my trials, for I am determined to go all over the world till I find that which alone can satisfy me. I know you may think it strange of me to say such things, but I cannot help it. I hope to hear from you soon, for I don't expect to stay here very long.”
And thus did my father reply:—
"My soul-beloved child, Isaac,—I assure you that your mother and I do not know what to do. I really cannot understand why the Lord should deal with us in so strange a way. I have had my troubles in life, but never did I think that I should have such troubles as I now have. It breaks my heart to think that you, my flesh and blood, who was the comfort of my soul, whom I hoped to see happy, should suffer so much as you do. Since you left us your mother and myself have not enjoyed one complete night's sleep. Only last night, about twelve o'clock, I suddenly awoke, because of your mother's crying and lamenting as she dreamed about you in her sleep. In a word, let me tell you that the whole of our family are continually lamenting because of your extraordinary troubles.
“I hope, my dear child, that the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, will guide you, and satisfy your soul. Accept your father's and mother's love. Your brothers, Joshua Hessel, Jonah Abel, and your sister, Meitta Esther, send their love to you. Even your little sister, Golda Tzipa, often repeats, Isaac, Isaac,' and cries because you are not with us.
“Let me leave you in the hands of God. I hope that you will try and have always your phylacteries perfect, also your fringes (tzizes). I remain, beloved Isaac,
"Your very affectionate parent, LION LEVINSOHN.
“I propose that your mother and brothers and sisters should sign their names for you to remember them:—
“Your beloved mother, BRAINAH LEVINSOHN.
"Your affectionate brother,
JOSHUA HESSEL LEVINSOHN.
"Your affectionate sister,
MEITTA ESTHER LEVINSOHN.
“Your brother, Jonah Abel, as he is too young to write, makes a sign,
“Your little sister, Golda Tzipa does the same,
This letter filled me with concern lest my parents should break their hearts for me, and I determined not to refer to my circumstances again, neither to let them know more of my sufferings.
My father also put me in communication with the ruler of the synagogue, to whom he had sent money on my behalf, and he gave me forty thalers, with which I bought some good clothes and replaced my ragged garments. When I returned to the hotel comfortably attired the people looked surprised, and they treated me quite as a different person from what they had done when I was in my worn-out attire.
One day, as 1 took my afternoon walk, I met a young man wandering about in a very dejected state. I pitied him much, having been in poverty myself a few days previously. He said he had come from the town of Kovno, Russia, the same town that I had come from myself, but his family I did not know.
Moved with compassion towards him, I invited him to the hotel, ordered dinner, and asked the manager to let him lodge there. The young man also expressed a desire to go to England, which pleased me, for I thought he would be a suitable companion for me, so I gave him five thalers to buy new clothes.
We became quite affectionate friends; went together to the synagogue, and I was much pleased to find him very earnest in his prayers. I felt more and more attached to him, and looked upon him as my own brother, saying, "My happiness shall be your happiness, your trouble my trouble." The manager allowed us to share one room; and the more I knew of this young man, the more my affection seemed to increase toward him.
Imagine then my horror one morning when I arose, and could not find any of my clothes! even my boots were gone. I opened my pack, and discovered all I had possessed was gone. I had been robbed of my money, and was almost naked.
Hearing my lamentation, the manager came up. He was amazed when he saw my plight, and did not know what to think, but said my "friend" had left the house early in the morning with a large parcel. To console me the manager got me some old clothes, and promised all the help he could.