The modern counterpart of the Yoshe Kalb of Jewish legend is the young son of a wealthy Viennese merchant.
Of Socialist inclinations for many years, the boy joined the Social Democratic party when he turned eighteen. About a year ago he met several orthodox youths and shortly afterwards he disappeared from home. His father began an extensive search. The trail led to the Yeshivath Chachmei Lublin, where the boy was found. He had become one of the Yeshiva’s outstanding pupils. He had also grown side-locks and was wearing the traditional long coat.
Despite his father’s pleadings, the young man refused to go home, declaring that he would not leave the Yeshiva.
Recently the father went to Lublin again, where he learned that his son had joined the followers of the Gerer rebbe. Hastening to Ger, the father promised to become a pious Jew and conduct his house in the orthodox fashion, if only the rebbe would prevail upon the former Socialist to go home.
The rebbe ordered the youth to go with his father, and the young Chassid agreed. But en route to Vienna he suddenly disappeared.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
