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202 26 The Two Friends T O L D B Y A B R A H A M K E R E N It happened many years ago, in a town in Galicia. Avrum was a boy from a Jewish family, who lived next door to a Polish family with a son named Wlodek. The two boys were good friends. They played together and got into mischief and indulged in all sorts of pranks suggested by their imaginations . When the boys grew up, their paths diverged and they went their separate ways. Avrum and Wlodek were both very bright and gifted children. Wlodek studied in the local school. When he finished, his parents sent him to the big city, where he continued his studies and became a priest. Over the years, he rose in the church hierarchy. Avrum, by contrast, studied in the Jewish religious school. Later, his parents sent him to the yeshivah* to study Torah. After that, he married and had sons and daughters. He never could make a living, though; and he and his family lived in abject poverty, with scant bread and scarce water. Years passed, and Reb** Avrum’s family grew larger. But the poverty of his house increased in proportion. One forenoon Reb Avrum finished his prayers and left the school with his tallit§ and tefillin§§ bag under his arm. He trudged slowly through the street, sunk in gloomy thoughts: Where would his help come from? Where would he find bread for his children? Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder and heard a familiar voice: “Avrumek! How are you?” Reb Avrum turned toward the speaker—a smiling man in clerical grab. “Don’t you recognize me?” the priest asked. “I’m Wlodek.” Despite the differences that separated them, Avrum was glad to see his childhood friend and invited him home. The priest accepted the invitation and promised to come that evening for supper. * Jewish school of higher learning. ** Rabbi or Mr.§ Prayer shawl.§§ Small black leather prayers boxes, wrapped around the head and arm, containing passages from the Torah. Reb Avrum went home and told his wife about his meeting with the priest, his childhood friend, and that he had invited him home for dinner. His wife listened carefully before replying. “It’s fine that you invited him, but we have to entertain and honor him appropriately—and with what? The only thing in this house is poverty.” What could be done? His wife ran to and fro among the neighbors and did what she could. Before the guest arrived the table was set with fine dishes and a royal repast. When the priest arrived, they greeted him cordially. He surveyed the house and saw that there was poverty in every corner, but nevertheless the table was tastefully set and covered with fine food. He ate and drank and even agreed to sleep there. In the morning, he went away. After the priest had gone, Avrum’s wife went to straighten up the house and make the beds. When she lifted the pillow on the priest’s bed, what did she see? A crucifix! It was solid gold, encrusted with precious jewels. And there on the crucifix was the image of the crucified one, with two large diamonds for his eyes! The woman was in a panic and didn’t know what to do. Should she run after the priest to return what he had lost? Where should she look for him? Should she touch the crucifix? That was certainly forbidden! It’s idolatry and has no place in a proper Jewish house. What should she do? She stood there in perplexity until she decided . She ran to the school and called her husband to come home. When Reb Avrum saw the crucifix, he pondered the matter. Finally he decided: We will set the crucifix aside and wait. The priest will certainly come back for what he lost. Days passed, and then months. A year went by and still the priest did not return. “It’s from Heaven,” Reb Avrum told himself then. “I’ll sell part of the crucifix to support us and the children.” He did just that. First he removed one eye from the crucifix and sold the diamond. Then he took out the other eye and sold it. When the money was gone he began cutting up the crucifix, piece by piece. Little by little he was able to sweep the poverty out of his house. The house...

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