Two months had elapsed, and Rabbi Aaron was happy that he had not been bothered yet again. Then he was visited in the Gallery by Elya himself. He bought a scenery painting for his office, and approached Rabbi Aaron’s Cash to pay for it.
“I know about your visit in Gepau,” he whispered, “My dear Rabbi Aaron, you have to know that Stalin himself stopped my re-investigation by Gepau.”
“I congratulate you for that,” said Aaron.
“Why shouldn’t you visit me in my office one day?” suggested Elya, “I want to hear more about the boy, let’s talk.”
“Very well,” said Aaron.
Rabbi Aaron walked to Elya two days after his visit in the Gallery. The new original painting he had purchased was hanging on the wall of his new office. He told Aaron that he would be soon promoted, and allowed to be a candidate for leading the District Party’s Youths’ Secretary. The previous one has been found guilty for some fradulent financial business, in ‘contrabanda with other Party Aparatchiks(activists).’
“Stalin knows me personally, for some years,” Elya said proudly to Aaron, “maybe these Gepau men didn’t know that. They have accomplished hard tasks, and now dig in the ground to find new enemies, seeking more work for their enormous staff…But as for me - one of Stalin’s closest new men, comrade Leib Mekhlis, had spoken to our leader about the suspicions of Gepau about me. Stalin had ordered them to stop any inquiry.”
“It seems that Stalin has improved his relation to the people generally,” said Rabbi Aaron, “as Trotsky is not in Russia any more. So…surely you can help me in …submitting my problem to his Secretariat.”
Elya pulled out a pen and paper from his pocket. He seemed to talk quietly, but he was nervously drawing geometric forms on his sheet.
“I was glad to hear,” he said, “that you have permitted Raf’l to learn Russian. You know that I have a hand in that. In addition to what you pay - I’m also paying the teracher, from my privare pocket… The Welfare Ministry wants to take the kid from you, and put him with blind kids. I have successfully prevented that.”
“We-ll. . .Thank you. But I want to repeat: The main point is, that Russia is still a very heavy load on my shoulders.”
“You will suffer wherever you will be, my friend. You are a Russian typical sufferer. We have them a lot, like described in the literature.” The last sentence - Elya learned from Natalya in remote days.
“I don’t talk only on behalf of myself,” added Rabbi Aaron, “but also on behalf of my kid. Raphael is educated by me, and bears a spiritual suffering, in addition to his physical ailment. You are his uncle, Elya.”
“The communist party’s policy is - that no one should leave this country. All deserters had smirched our country’s fame.”
“Please, you must this time help me - and your nephew. I feel like choked, every day. Though from outside…it’s..Why… a man in my condition- is not allowed to appeal to our leader?”
“What? Everybody can appeal to Stalin...” said Elya, “But don’t involve me. Don’t mention me. . .You swear about that”
“I have already written to Stalin!” exclaimed Aaron, “But Antonov captured my two letters...”
“Oh, I didn’t know that…Maybe he’s right. I’m sure that what you claimed- seemed bothering and impolite.”
“I am in a big trouble, Elya Ruhin!” shouted the Rabbi, rising up. His eyes expressed anger. Elya raised his hand, as a clue for him to relax. “Had Stalin known the truth about...my situation, he would. . . would have been generous to me! He is not like all his foolish . . Apparatchiks!”
“Calm down, Aaron Hittin! What happens to you?”
Elya rose from his seat, too. He brought a jug from the narrow kitchen in the side room, poured water into a glass and handed it to Rabbi Aaron with a smile.
“You can drink! In my office - Water is kosher!”
Rabbi took a gulp. Both were re-seated.
“Elya, You can arrange for me a meeting with Stalin...You have just told me yourself, that you have a good friend there, in his ‘Secretaryat’(bureau). . .I, a Jewish simple Rabbi, had been deprived from my religious job. I am permanently suspected and investigated by the secret police, and they blow me and make me sick. They inquired me regarding Natalya, regarding your uncle, and regarding my neighbor.”
“That is their job. You were asked even about me. I have told you: I am rehabilitated.”
“I must try a way,” insisted the Rabbi, “of directly meeting Stalin!” Elya looked at him and laughed.
“Meshuga! Lunatic! Gepau will use it against me! Throw out that idea from your head, Aaron.”
“I will ask Stalin,” mumbled Rabbi Aaron, like rehearsing what he would tell, “what benefit he has from holding us here, in Russia.”
“You are a fantazist.”
“Stalin himself is interested today in meeting the people, “ said Rabbi Aaron, “Look...”
Rabbi pulled out the ‘PRAVDA’ newspaper from his coat’s pocket. He extended it on the table, and pointed out on the news headline in the second page. He read loudly, and Elya’s ears began to flush.
“…By this act - our General Secretary Stalin will earn the sympathy of all the people, no doubt about that. His biggest rival, Trotsky, had been explled from Russia, and now our leader can devote more of his time to deal with the people and their daily problems.”
“Let me see,” said Elya. Aaron handed him the paper, and he read:.
“Lenin used to have frequent visits of workers and peasants in his office. Stalin will immitate him. There is already a long row of people waiting for him, so our correspondent informs us.”
Elya rose from his chair.
“Wait, comrade Aaron,” he said, and left Aaron alone for a moment. He went to his narrow kitchen, and came back, bringing two pieces of good smelling soap..
“That’s for your son,” he said, “you’ll wash him with this precious soap. Stalin’s bureau provided it to me, in my last visit there. It was exclusively for the V.I.P-S of our communist Party.”
Rabbi took the present into his coat’s pocket.
“Could you phone now to Stalin’s Bureau, and fix a date for me?”
“Let me still think… It might play the opposite direction. They may say, that your appeal is pure incitement. You wish to escape from our homeland. The best future awaits the people here. That’s our policy. Let me have a two days to think and ask. . . !”
“Elya, do it for your late sister. For the woman that I loved, and you had admired. . .Her son will not survive here for long. God takes care, but the boy is weak like a baby bird. . . “
He burst in a strange weep, but soon became quiet.
“Have you asked the boy- if he likes your idea at all?” asked Elya.
“He is desperate- like me. If you care about him, your heart should lead you.”
Rabbi rose also from the chair. He stared around, and felt staggering.
“If you had understood Esther’s wishes...” said Elya and moaned for the first time in that meeting.
“Sometimes I admit,” said Rabbi Aaron, “that I had not done enough for her. I blame myself.. .But no use in thinking about that. Now the Regime continuously blames me. . .simply for my belief in God.”
Elya’s eyes became wet. He shook hands with Rabbi Aaron. They both left his office, going out through the front door. Elya followed Aaron a few steps.
“Let me check what I can do.” he repeated as to himself.
CHAPTER 26