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The Bet HaMidrash also served as a public
meeting place where people gathered for a variety
of purposes. In that building many business
meetings took place. Also, elections for representatives
to local offices and to the community
council were held in the Bet HaMidrash. Finally,
in times of emergency, meetings were held in the
Bet HaMidrash to elect individuals who would
form committees to attend to urgent matters.
On the eve of the High Holy Days and other
important holidays, the Bet HaMidrash was filled
with peoplewall to walldue to the arrival of
Jews from neighboring villages. Moyshe Avrom's
Sheyner, old and frail, a Rizhin Chasid, would
then spread out and display his merchandise
[religious articles] to the crowds. He had taleisim,
small and large, tzitzis, mezuzes, prayer books,
chumashim and machzors for sale. All this was
put out on a long, wide table in the right wing of
the Bet HaMidrash, in the building's southeastern
part.
The Bet HaMidrash also served as a temporary
shelter for the town's beggars and passing
travelers. The atmosphere was comfortable and
inviting. All who came there found time for some
light conversation with a friend to alleviate the
burden of the day's worries.
The Synagogues of the Chasidim and
Craftsmen
Aside from the central synagogue and the Bet
HaMidrash, there were other shtiblach and synagogues
in town exclusively for the groups of
Chasidim and for the craftsmen of our town. Let
us recall them and list them one by one in order of
size.
The synagogue of the Trisk Chasidim: Due to
its size and the number of congregants, this synagogue
takes its place right after the Bet HaMidrash.
Just by looking at its exterior, one could tell that
this house of prayer was very respectable and just
as pleasant on the inside. This building was made
of wood and had a very high ceiling. On its south
side, the synagogue had a large yard surrounded
by a fence. There were two entrances, one on the
north side and one on the south, accessible through
a long corridor that stretched along the west side
of the building. Above the corridor was a gallery
FROM DAILY LIFE 151
that served as the prayer area for women. Two
wide entranceways led from the stairs into the
synagogue.
In the center of the building stood the raised
platform where the Torah was read. It was similar
to the one in the Bet HaMidrash. A reader in the
synagogue, who was known for the singing of
psalms and admired by the Chasidim of Trisk,
was Rabbi Shmuel Avrom Eltzter; also known
for his prayers was Rabbi Abba Gloz. Heading the
Chasidim of Trisk were Rabbi Leybl Dayan, the
son-in-law of Rabbi Arye Finkelsteyn (Rabbi Leibl
z"1), and also Rabbi Hersh, son of Rabbi Aron
(grandfather and father of Nathan Tchelet-
Blumen), whose home served as the center of
learning for the shochetim [ritual slaughterers of
kosher meat] of the surrounding region.
Rabbi Hersh, a wonderful man, was famous
in our town, and the Chasidim of Trisk were
proud of him. Most of the Chasidim of Trisk were
thought of as educated and enlightened men who
kept up with the times. Many took an active part
in all activities that aimed at the revival of our
people and the Hebrew language, and the redemption
of the land of Israel.
Prayer Houses (shtiblach) of Kotsk, Rizhin, and
Radzin Chasidim, and also of the "Mitaskim"
These synagogues were connected partly to the
rebbe of Vlodawka and partly to the rebbe of
Stepen. The synagogues were similar to each
other; they were all ordinary, wooden structures
that looked no different from other houses in
Luboml except that they had a large number of
shutterless windows.
In every one of these houses of prayer there
was a place for women to pray. During the week,
this space was used by students of Gemara who
needed a place for intellectual concentration.
The furnishings in all these synagogues consisted
of long, heavy tables and benches, and cabinets
full of sacred books of all kinds. These cabinets
were open at all hours of the day and night to
everyone who wanted to use them.
The Holy Ark was located in the center of the
eastern wall, and on the right was a stand for the
cantor and a mizrach inscribed with the biblical
passage: "I have set the Lord always before me."