The Golem of Mala Lubovnya by Kim Fielding

Author:Kim Fielding [Fielding, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

“Did you have a restful Shabbos?” Emet asked Jakob the next morning as they walked to work. The sky was gray, threatening rain, and the landscape had lost its color.

“I studied as always. While Papa and my brothers nap, I go to the shul and read the Talmud. I keep looking for answers there.”

“Have you found them?”

“Not the ones I hope for.”

A few goats eyed Emet hopefully as he passed. Most mornings he picked a few of their favorite leaves—those just out of reach on Emet’s side of the fence—and fed the animals. He liked their strange eyes, and he liked to rub the hairs that grew between their horns. This morning, though, he found the plants wilted by the previous night’s frost. He was sorry to disappoint the goats.

Emet picked up a pair of stones before heading up the hill. When he got there, Jakob was standing in the middle of his partially finished house, scowling at the sky. “I hoped we could get some work done before the rain began,” he said.

Just then, a fat raindrop landed on Emet’s head. “I can work in the rain.”

“You wear so little clothing. Don’t you get cold?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jakob shook his head. “Come with me.”

They walked back down the hill and across the field. The rain began to fall in earnest, making Jakob bow his head and shiver. Emet moved around to Jakob’s windward side, hoping his body would shield Jakob’s a little. Jakob took them to a tumbledown structure that smelled of old hay. They sat in a corner where the remains of the roof were intact enough to shelter them, and they huddled close to each other, not quite touching. “This used to be a corncrib,” Jakob explained. “It would have lasted longer if they’d built it of stone instead of wood. Let’s wait a while to see if the storm passes.”

Emet nodded happily, relieved that he wouldn’t have to return to the attic right away. The drumbeat of the rain on the roof reminded him of music, although it was a much wilder tune than the prayers he was used to. “What do the words of the prayers mean, Jakob?”

“It depends which one.”

“The last one from last night.”

Jakob thought a moment. “Eliyahu HaNavi. It’s a plea for the return of Elijah.”

“Elijah?”

“The prophet. When he appears, we will be redeemed.” Jakob must have read the blank look on Emet’s face, because he sighed. “You know so little.”

“I’m sorry,” said Emet, ashamed.

“It’s not your fault. In some ways you’re like a small child who’s never been taught anything at all. And… in other ways you are very like a man.” Jakob shifted his body a little, increasing the space between them by a few inches. He picked up a small, smooth pebble and rubbed it with his thumb. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Emet. With my hammer and my chisel, I mean.”

“I healed right away. You saw.”

“Yes. But I caused you pain, and you didn’t deserve that. You’ve never harmed anyone at all.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.