My stroll around Hamilton

by Henry Balinson

I walk and walk, and come to Bais Yaacov to ask our great God to put an end to the war.  If that was possible, I would have the pleasure of seeing my son back. I have already lost one son. I hoped that the shul would be full to bursting out the doors, but the shul was empty. The rabbi was giving his sermon to empty seats... Where are you, Hamilton Jews? What are you so busy with?

And I continue my walk. I come to Hess Street Shul. The shul where everyone davens. Rich, poor, Polish, Litvishe, all assorted Jews daven in harmony. Just as the Rav is going to do his sermon, an insolent man makes a scene and screams that the rabbi should not speak. Who is he? Why does he yell more than others? Does he pay more than the other members? Do we not have respect for the rabbi and the other plain Jews? Does he own a big store and think he is all Hamilton? Does he think he has the right to disturb when people have come to thank God for the Yom Tov and he is disturbing the small audience. It is not the first time he has disturbed Rabbi Levine. This must be stopped. Rabbi Levine gets insulted by unruly people even though he gives to all charities as well as the insolent screamer...

And I walk on. I look in the community building, where they are trying to raise $38,000 and they actually didn’t call me, but a newspaper man has a lot of nerve, so when they throw him out the door, he crawls back in a window, and if they latch the door, he climbs down the chimney like Santa Claus.  I was there not in body, but in soul. Although great diplomats like at 54 Vine Street cannot stop such souls, they tried, but it didn’t happen because with the $38,000, they will provide us with this world’s pleasures and the pleasures of the world to come...

And I stroll on. Now I come into Adas Israel Shul. And you ask me, how do I come to Adas Israel Shul, and I will tell you. The president, Mr. Sam Katz, has invited me. If you think I am sorry, you are wrong. Firstly, they had a learned chazan, Mr. Saul Shapiro. His Hebrew is decorated with pearls. He is a musical genius, his trope he can recite with closed eyes. His davening is a heartfelt Yiddish groan.  He speaks clear words, pay attention he says to him. Maybe you would like to give us a break? And guess what he answers him, “I have forgiven according to your wish”.  I was at their election meeting, and if you think I didn’t get pleasure, you are mistaken. The meeting was conducted in fine order. The president, Mr. Sam Katz, finished his talk. The vice-president, Mr. Pesach Reit, helped the president with his work, and the treasurer, Mr. P. Magder, matched dollar-for-dollar and the shul won to have such a fine set of  “honourable people.” They did not want to take on another term, so a new set of officers was elected. Mr. Netkin became president, a man with a lot of pep. Vice-president, Mr. Lychter; treasurer Mr. Rotman. And for secretary, our famous war correspondent, Mr. Palter. Hall manager, Mr. Henry Waxman. At the end, we drank a schnapps...

What happened in the Ferguson Avenue Shul I don’t know, but God is good. After this newspaper, there will be another newspaper, and we will tell you all the details what had happened there.

Have a good year, and let us live to see the downfall of Germany, Italy and Japan. Then we will sing and dance.

From the May, 1943 issue of  the Yiddishe Shtime de Hamiltoner. Translated from the Yiddish by Shavey (Sheila) Tishler.