Place of Birth
Published in Issue #6 Translated from Romanian by Jean Harris(Excerpt of a Novel)
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Headed by Chief Rabbi Dr. Niemirower of Bucharest, Rabbi Zirelsohn of Chishinău and Rabbi Dr. Burstein of Botoshani, eighteen of the most illustrious rabbis looked into the case.
THE REPORT from 1928 summarizes the “serious investigation” undertaken on December 31, 1928 by delegates I.M Wechsler and Suchăr Feller on the last day of the year 1928, and thus on the eve of the New Year’s celebration. A profane holiday, the New Year: so thought the ignorant, ready for merry-making and another joyful year. The day marked an anniversary, in fact: the anniversary of a bris, a circumcision, gentlemen!, delegates Wechsler and Feller were ready to shout. The circumcision of the Jewish boy, Joshua, a week after his birth: this is what your New Year commemorates. Before becoming the Savior, Jesus, the boy circumcised 1,928 years ago, had become the Rabbi Jehoshua. Jesus Christ was not Roman after all, or Romanian, or German, or Russian or Spanish, as the multitude would believe. The honorable delegates, who had come to Botoshani to bring peace and concord to the disturbances of their co-religionists from Burdujeni had no time for digressions, however. They would return to Botoshani for New Year’s Eve.
We summoned Mr. Zalic Gruenberg together with the four members that make up his committee. We have likewise called Mr. Herman Horowitz, with the four members of the rival committee. We have requested that they give us their registers and detailed minutes. We have likewise informed the serious people who desire the serenity and prosperity of the city of Burdujeni. So began THE INVESTIGATORS’ REPORT.
The...
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