The Rise of David Levinsky

David moves from schooling in the homes of teachers into a Talmudic seminary, called a yeshivah. His is an old institution attracting students from all over his region of Russia. Students who come from far away sleep in the school on benches or floors. These boys are fed by the charity of families. David is lucky enough to sleep at home and walk to the school each day. He begins seminary at 13. David ascribes the wisdom of his people to the study of the Talmud, stating it is “a source of intellectual interest” (40). Talmudic education serves as the only education for most Orthodox boys. David describes the Talmud as books of debates between rabbis “concerned with questions of conscience, religious duty, and human sympathy […] relations ‘between man and God’ and those ‘between man and man’” (41). The Talmud is concerned with all things, using a verse as a pretext for the discourse. Talmudic scholars dissect the arguments to the minutest details. David spends seven years studying the Talmud in the yeshiva.

He forms a friendship with Rabbi Sender who helps him to analyze the text. David lies about liking his musical compositions to buoy the friendship. Reb Sender forms a familial bond with David, supporting his studies. David’s childhood friend Naphtali joins him at seminary, struggling through his near sidedness to read the tiny text. The Talmud is chanted in singsong as it is read, and David praises Naphtali’s passionate recitations, often singing himself hoarse.

David graduates at 16 and begins work on scholarly endeavors at the seminary. He binds himself to the spiritual and religious exaltation of Talmudic study. He imagines the ancient scholars as individual godly men, superior in every way. David begins to wonder about his own character and mind, wondering what is hidden within himself. He shies away from anything that could cause him to sin, even bringing himself to tears in contrition from impure or unholy thoughts. He cannot help noticing beautiful women, but he shames himself for noticing them. then categorizes his interactions with the opposite sex as either acceptable expressions of affection or acts of sin.

Once David reaches 18, the seminary population grows with the addition of students from the Polish provinces. David immediately forms a contentious relationship with one of the boys, the son of a rich merchant. The boy also has a keen mind and memorization skills. David grows more and more jealous of the boy. He dedicates himself to memorizing more Talmud than the Polish boy. His mother rejoices at his dedicated study.

David walks home from the yeshiva on Purim, the feast of Esther. He wears his new long coat and hat. As he crosses the horse market in town, he is accosted by a group of young Gentiles. One of them hits him in the face, splitting his lip. Another takes David’s new hat, leaving him bareheaded, which is a sin. He stumbles home. His mother demands to know what happened to him. She resolves to find the boys and confront them. David’s roommates all attempt to dissuade her, but she goes anyway.

Fifteen minutes later, she returns, carried by others, her head broken. She dies later in the evening. The anti-Jewish atrocities of 1881 and 1882 keep the community from fighting back or even having a proper funeral. Many community members take pity on David, but Rabbi Sender’s wife says she will take care of him. David begins to sleep in the synagogue with the other traveling students, mourning the loss of his mother. Eventually, Reb Sender’s wife comes to resent David’s pull on their meager resources. David struggles to find enough to eat. Naphtali and David sit in hunger together studying. Naphtali confesses to not believing in God; David vows to shun him. He gives up the mission, though, finding himself too full of sorrow and hunger to pursue the argument. Naphtali introduces him to a poet named Abraham Tevkin.

Naphtali then introduces David to Shiphrah Minsker, a wealthy elderly woman who makes a project of supporting Talmudic scholars of no means. She does not cover her hair or follow several other Orthodox customs, but she supported 18 students. David meets her, and his introducer tells her the story of his mother’s death. She agrees to sponsor him, offering sustenance and a small stipend. She also brings him discards from her family. David rededicates himself to his studies and begins to dream of America. He considers the rising anti-Jewish sentiment in Russia and the possibility of following others who immigrated. Hundreds of other Russian Jews plan to leave; David thinks, “The United States lured me not merely as a land of milk and honey, but also, and perhaps chiefly, as one of mystery, of fantastic experiences, of marvelous transformations” (82). Reb Sender tells him he will surely give in to Gentile ways in America and that David will never raise enough money for the voyage.

David becomes increasingly obsessed with America. He catches cold. Mrs. Minsker takes David home with her, determining the school cannot make him well. Mrs. Minsker’s daughter, Matilda, resides at the house as well. She caused a minor sensation the year before by forcing her father to facilitate her divorce. Matilda went to boarding school in Germany and speaks Russian as well.

David meets the housekeeper, who Mrs. Minsker tasks with feeding David up and making him well. The housekeeper learns of David’s tragic loss and takes a fancy to him. David sees Matilda and assesses her as interesting looking but not pretty. Matilda chides her mother for taking David into her home, knowing her father would not approve. David then meets the other Minsker children. David learns about luxury sleeping in a comfortable bed and eating until he is full. He continues to observe Matilda with fascination. He sees a piano for the first time. Matilda teases him incessantly for not knowing how to behave in “polite” society. She teases him about his sidelocks and piousness. She goads him about America and becoming a properly educated man. David tells her what it is like to live with hunger and suffering. He then tells her about his plans to immigrate. Matilda wants to help him find the money. David falls in love with Matilda.

She continues to treat him in a playful way. The two kiss, and Matilda teases him about his loss of piety. He confesses his love for her. She teases him a bit, but later that night she sneaks into his bedroom and the two talk at length about America. David convinces himself they will be married. They kiss. David tells her he will study and become a great scholar. The two carry on for a few days, though David senses a twitchiness in Matilda. Her father’s return is announced; David returns to the yeshivah. Matilda tells David she will bring him the money for his trip to America.

David confesses his love to Rabbi Sender; he tells him it will pass. David runs to Naphtali, and they talk at length. David cannot stop thinking about Matilda. When she comes with the money, he tells her he wants to stay in Russia with her. She tells him he is ridiculous and that he must go. David is crushed, but she tells him to go to America and become an educated man. David prepares to leave. Reb Sender tells him to be a good Jew and a good man. Naphtali asks him to send him a ticket. Mrs. Minsker hands him some money as he goes. He makes his final farewells, his eyes glistening with tears.