My Rabbi-Teacher, Schimshale from Milnitz, for Whom You Would Do Absolutely Anything

My experiences at the cheder in Skolje were soon forgotten, for our rabbi-teacher, Schimshale from Milnitz, was a weary and peaceable man. Not only did he never beat us, but he was grateful if we would let him alone. He used to say that he liked a fresh boy with a good head, who learned something, better than a “good,” “well-behaved” boy whose head was empty. We often abused this tolerance of his and played little practical jokes on him.