Meier-Graefe, Julius: Pyramid and temple (London, 1931)

CHAPTER XXV

THE SYNAGOGUE

Habima, the Hebrew theatre from Moscow, is touring here.
They are giving The Dybhuk, a Jewish piece. We met Dr.
Pick at the theatre; he is a doctor whom we got to know
through Levin. Dr. Pick is very obliging; and as he already
knew the play, he told me its contents five minutes before the
beginning of the performance.

‘The substance is very simple, as you’ll see. Chanon, a
young man who is studying the Talmud, is in love with
Leah, the daughter of the wealthy Sender. Chanon’s father
had once been rich too, and then the fathers destined their
children for each other. You understand? But when old
Chanon got poor, and died, Sender, you understand,
wouldn’t have any more to do with it, and promised Leah to
the son of a rich man. Chanon and Leah have only seen each
other once, and have only said “good day” to each other.
But the way they said it was enough for them, do you
understand?’

‘Yes, I understand.’

‘When young Chanon learns the new arrangement from
old Sender in the synagogue, he falls down dead.’

‘Oh!’

‘Yes, it moves a bit quickly; but you’ll see. In the second
act the marriage takes place. Or rather, it’s just going to;
and as the rich Menasheh is just about to throw the veil over
his bride in the Jewish manner she refuses him, and the
master of the feast says at once that she must be possessed
by the Dybbuk. Do you understand?’

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