EZEIELK THE SCRIBE 225
So Ezrielk began to davven in the Kabtzonivke Old Shool, and a crowd of people, not only from Kabtzo- nivke, but even from Kamenivke and Ebionivke, used to fill and encircle the Shool to hear him.
Reb Yainkel was not mistaken, he knew what he was saying. Ezrielk was indeed fit to davven: life and the joy of life had vanished from his singing, and the terrorful weeping, the fearful wailing of a nation's two thousand years of misfortune, might be heard and felt in his voice.
Ezrielk was very weakly, and too young to lead the service often, but what a stir he caused when he lifted up his voice in the Shool !
Kabtzonivke, Kamenivke, and Ebionivke will never forget the first U-mipne Chatoenu led by the twelve- year-old Ezrielk, standing before the precentor's desk in a long, wide prayer-scarf.
The men, women, and children who were listening inside and outside the Old Shool felt a shudder go through them, their hair stood on end, and their hearts wept and fluttered in their breasts.
Ezrielk's voice wept and implored, "on account of our sins."
At the time when Ezrielk was distinguishing himself on this fashion with his chanting, the Jewish doctor from Kamenivke happened to be in the place. He saw the crowd round the Old Shool, and he went in. As you may suppose, he was much longer in coming out. He was simply riveted to the spot, and it is said that he rubbed his eyes more than once while he listened
