A Converted Jew (1)

Early Days in Poland

I was born on the 14th of the month Nisan, 1812, on the evening before the Passover. My parents were Jews, who were strictly observant of their religion, as were all my ancestors.

My family lived in a small town called Vinooty, in Russian Poland, on the borders of Prussia. I have a perfect recollection of my maternal grandfather. He held the rank of rabbi over twenty or thirty thousand Jews and, as his office and position required, was notable as a learned student in the rabbinical writings and traditions. Among other details of his official duty, he was judge as to things ceremonially clean or unclean. Alleged violations of the Sabbath were also referred to him. The Jews also referred many purely civil questions concerning frauds or debts to him and, indeed, he was so respected by the magistrates, that if contending Jews and Gentiles had a cause in dispute and took it to them, they were accustomed to depute their authority to my grandfather, leaving the matter open for his opinion and decision. His study was near the synagogue, and there he spent most of his time.

One incident connected with my early years impressed the habits of my conscientious grandfather strongly upon my memory. His residence was fifteen miles from that of my parents, and I went to visit him. His study was about ten minutes walk from his private dwelling, and I proceeded to go there. He had not been home during the previous night, which was not unusual since he was accustomed to spend three nights of each week alone in his study. It was early in the morning when I went to him to have him lay his hands upon my head to receive his blessing, according to custom. Instantly I perceived there was something wrong with his nose, and upon inquiring what had befallen him, he replied, “Last night while reading, I fell asleep over the candle, burned my nose, and set my cap on fire.” Such was the zeal of my dear grandfather that he fasted two days of every week, Monday and Thursday. He also fasted every other day of one whole month in the year — the sixth month Elul — which corresponds with the latter end of August and the beginning of September.

On the Day of Atonement, which is a fast day, he used to deliver an oration to the congregation, clad entirely in white and wearing no shoes. He would not leave the synagogue the whole day. His oration was so affecting that the whole congregation would be in tears. I remember one time witnessing it and, although only a child of eleven years, I was equally affected with the rest.

The day before Atonement the most respectable families used to bring their children to my grandfather that he might bless them. His custom was to visit our house once a year and spend a week, including one Sabbath, and preach on that day. Every day during his stay the Jews would bring their little children that he might lay his hands on their heads and bless them.

A Strange Prophecy

I remember another incident which made such an impression on my mind that I never forgot it. I was not more than nine years of age when my eldest brother, two sisters and myself were visiting our grandfather. Sitting at the dinner table, across from my grandmother, I did something to displease her, and she, being naturally not very amiable, stretched out her hand across the table and with great vehemency said, “Nisan” (which was my Jewish name), “as sure as I am born you will kick the bucket.” This is a phrase which, though known to Englishmen as a vulgarism synonymous with death, is employed seriously by continental Jews as strongly and solely significant of what they consider to be apostasy from the truth, or a disgraceful adoption of the profession of Christianity.

My grandfather, understanding the phrase, although I did not, turned his face towards her with a look of the greatest disapprobation, and although he was a mild and most amiable man, whispered something to her which I did not hear. Thus she prophesied the truth. Caiaphas prophesied that there was a need for one man to die that the whole nation perish not; Balaam, that there should rise a star out of Jacob; and my grandmother, that I should become a Christian. All was true and all was accomplished, although spoken by ungodly persons. I bless my dear Redeemer for the fulfilment of all these things. On my return home, I related the circumstance to my mother who, bursting into a flood of tears, exclaimed, “I would rather die, or follow you to the grave, than live to see that.” Hearing these words and seeing my mother so affected, I was anxious to know the meaning of my grandmother’s saying. At my first inquiry I met with a denial, but after many entreaties my mother told me, with the tears still trickling down her cheeks. Understanding the meaning, I began to cry, saying, “Mother, I will never become a Gentile. No, no, not I.”

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