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. It s not a rabbi the community are lookingfor after all, but. Raizela s eyes opened wider still. But?. she echoed.It was quite five minutes before Reb Avram Ber found his tongueagain. But.a tsadik. What? Well you see, this is the position.Their former rabbi also served asa tsadik.He made a very comfortable living, and was highly respected.What they re after now is someone to take his place. So what of it? Raizela cut in impatiently.All this talk about theformer tsadik seemed quite irrelevant. So they have asked me. Reb Avram Ber resumed, in such agentle whisper that Raizela had to incline her ear to catch what he wassaying. They have approached me.In fact, they tell me that theyhave heard that I come of a very illustrious family, and I may add thatmy own reputation is not unknown to them either; indeed, they arevery favorably disposed to me, and they promise me a comfortable liv-ing.Really, they treated me with the utmost respect and consideration.The whole community absolutely begged me to come to them as their.you see, they want a new tsadik. And still I don t know what you re driving at, said Raizela. Whatif they do want a new tsadik? How does that concern you? You don tTHE DANCE OF THE DEMONS 77 mean to tell me that their official invitation to you to become theirnew rabbi was no more than a scrap of paper, or is that what you re try-ing to say? Reb Avram Ber felt the blood rushing up into his head. Not exactly, but the difficulty is this: a son-in-law of the formerminister has staked his claim as the sole rightful successor, and says heis not going to make way for a stranger.To try to oust him would meansettling down in an atmosphere of strife, and what s more, this son-in-law has a small, but voluble, following in the town.He is himself a GerHassid, and all the other Ger Hassidim in the neighborhood arestrongly on his side.Whereas they used to scoff at the father-in-law,and mocked him at every turn, they think highly of the young man,and they say they d sooner have bloodshed than see him go.With theexception of this small opposition, the official invitation to me wasactually signed by practically the whole community.And these goodpeople tell me that in the long run they will triumph over the dissent-ing minority, but patience is needed.Meantime they want me to comeand live with them.All our troubles are going to be over soon, thankGod! I can trust these people, they are all honorable men, and I havenothing to fear from them. To begin with, you will be our tsadik, orrather our leader, they say to me, and then in due course you willbecome our rabbi. At first I wouldn t hear of it, but after a while Ibecame convinced that I would not really be compromising the son-in-law s chances, because he s quite unacceptable to the congregation as awhole.Whatever happens, the benefice is certain to go eventually to anoutsider.There can be not the slightest doubt about that.And don t forone moment imagine that these good people are trying to deceive me.No, they re in dead earnest! In fact, do you know what they did? Theygave me fifty rubles to help us over the Passover holidays.Of course, Ididn t want to take the money.But it was no use my arguing.Theyabsolutely forced the money on me, although I never gave them anydefinite decision, because I wasn t sure of your attitude. Please, theysaid to me, as if I were doing them a favor, please accept this and pre-pare a Passover festival fit for a king! Raizela was steadfastly silent.Reb Avram Ber at last got tired of sitting down.He stood up andbegan pacing the room, mopping his brow with his spotted yellowhandkerchief as he went.A quarter of an hour passed by.Half an hour.78 ESTHER SINGER KREITMAN Still she said not a word, did not even attempt to say anything, butonly followed his every movement with a melancholy look in those biggray eyes of hers, which scorched him like growing embers.Deborah came in.She had been out shopping.On catching sight ofher father she became flushed with pleasure. Hello, Papa! When did you get back? Why don t you take your coatoff? It s quite warm in here.Shall I pour you some tea? And without waiting for a reply she busied herself at the samovar.Soon a gleaming glass of tea stood at the head of the table. How are you, Papa? I m all right, Deborah, I m all right, said Reb Avram Ber, gratifiedto find himself spoken to at last. Is everything arranged? she asked, unable to curb her curiosity anylonger. More or less! And at this Reb Avram Ber stole a glance at Raizela, who still lay onthe couch in the same position as before, with that strange, faraway air.There was something unnatural in the folds round the corners of hermouth
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