Read Online Joshua: A Brooklyn Tale by Andrew Kane - Free Book Online Page B

mechanically, but his mind was elsewhere, contrasting his surroundings with the modest, unadorned sanctuary in which he had found himself two weeks earlier. He recalled the hordes of Hasidic men, all in dark suits and fedoras, crowded into a single room with wooden folding chairs and linoleum floors, and the women in their long dresses, hats, and kerchiefs, crammed upstairs in the balcony. Those who had arrived early enough had gotten seats, but most stood. And the praying was noisy, spirited, everyone swaying back and forth, pouring out their souls.
    The entire weekend at Rabbi Weissman’s home had been a surprise. First, the shock that Rabbi Weissman had managed to convince his parents to let him go; second, the rabbi’s daughter, Rachel, a year younger than he, and the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen.
    Rabbi Weissman had often spoken of Rachel, but never of her physical beauty.
    “My brilliant Rucheleh never ceases to remind me that in the book of Genesis it is the vomen who are in charge, from Eve all the vay through to her own name-sake, Rachel,”
    “My Rucheleh prepared these jelly donuts for Hanukah, for me to give to my favorite students. Here are some, they are almost as sveet as she.”
    Such adjectives had led Paul to expect a homely, bookish sort.
    He had felt uneasy when he first arrived at the Weissmans’ small two bedroom apartment. Alfred had dropped him off outside the building, without accompanying him up, using the excuse of having to get to a business meeting.
    Rebbetzin Weissman, the rabbi’s wife, had met Paul with a welcoming smile. She was younger than he’d imagined—a small woman, thin with a light complexion and dark brunette bangs protruding from under a kerchief, or tichel . She took his bag, and led him to Rachel’s room. Rachel had given up her bed for the weekend to sleep on the fold-out couch in the living room. He was told that this was routine in the Weissman home whenever there was a guest.
    “I hope you’re not uncomfortable about staying in a girl’s room, it’s the best we can do,” the Rebbetzin said. He noticed immediately that she—unlike her husband—had no accent.
    “Oh, not at all!” Polite, though not completely truthful.
    “Isaac, I mean the rabbi, will be back in a few minutes. He and Rachel just went out to do some last minute shopping. Can I offer you anything, a cold drink, maybe?”
    “No thank you,” he responded shyly.
    “Okay. Well, I’ll leave you to unpack. There’s an empty drawer in the dresser, top left, and some room in the closet. The shower is in the hall bathroom, there’s soap and shampoo already there. Candle-lighting isn’t for another hour and a half so you have plenty of time. Just make yourself at home. And, by the way, my name is Hannah.”
    Paul unpacked, showered, and dressed for his first Shabbos . He wore a light blue suit, white short sleeved shirt with a starched collar, and a Navy tie. Blue, in any shade, was his mother’s favorite color, not his.
    After he dressed, he didn’t know what to do. He heard voices in the kitchen—the rabbi’s, Hannah’s, and another he assumed belonged to Rachel. His anxiety grew. Hannah had been much prettier than he’d imagined, so now he was curious to see Rachel. He breathed deeply, and went to join them.
    “Ah, Pinchas,” the rabbi exclaimed as Paul appeared at the kitchen entrance. “Come, join us, ve vere just about to get you.” The rabbi put his arm around Paul. “You haven’t met my precious Rucheleh, whom I have told you so much about,” the rabbi said. “Rucheleh, this is Paul, rather Pinchas, whom I have told you so much about.”
    Rachel was an emerald eyed, strawberry blond goddess – elegant facial features, flawless skin, and a figure that seemed slightly more mature than her years from what Paul could tell beneath her modest Orthodox attire. She smiled and said, “Hello.” Paul did the same, trying to still the tremor in his voice. The rabbi’s hand