Dov Bar's Volchin - Chaim Stavsky

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Dov Bar's Volchin

Chaim Stavsky
The youngest son of Meir Shevach Stavsky and Hannah M. Goodman Stavsky. He had 4 brothers: Eibi, Velvel “William”, Yerachmiel , and Alex; and a sister, Menucha.

Chaim's father ran a hardware shop in Wysokie Litewskie; he was a money-lender and was known as a miser. Chaim did not want to stay with his father in Wysokie. One day Chaim simply took money from his father, enough for him to go away, first to Antwerp and eventually to the United States.

Afterward, the angry father visited his son Yerachmiel and told him of the theft and flight of his brother. Yerachmiel answered: It is better that the money go to Jacob --meaning, to his son Chaim-- rather than to Esau, i.e., lending money to Gentiles, as the Gentiles (Goyim) rarely pay off their loans.

Maybe Shevach wanted his son to stay and help him in his hardware shop? No! Shevach seemed content to sit in the shop with his wife.

Webmaster's notes: A Jacob ... Esau: Yerachmiel was well known for speaking in terms of Biblical stories, sayings, and proverbs. Is this allusion a true instance of Ipkha Mistabra, an attempt to persuade his father to see the incident in a completely different light? Gentiles/Goyim: Gentile is often used neutrally. It seems clear that the Yiddish word was intended to express contempt.

Page Last Updated: 10-Apr-2012