Investor Presentaiton
boys from the colony hired a tutor from Chernobyl to work with the kids on topics not covered
by the heder. 83 The anecdote about Kaganovich's tutor is a fascinating testament to life in his
village and the availability of education in his region of the Pale. The tutor was, in Kaganovich's
words, a paralyzed cripple from Chernobyl who had lost the use of both his legs.84 Kaganovich
and the other kids created a cart and sled for him because the classes would take place in
alternating houses depending on the day. Kaganovich notes how "we the children had to take
985
care of him, bring him food, water, and transport him ... We loved him very much."
In addition
to his physical attributes Kaganovich describes his brilliant understanding of Russian language
and literature two favorite topics for Kaganovich. He also adds that the tutor "was not a
religious fanatic, so he wittily presented the Bible to us, ridiculing some of its absurdities and
986
emphasizing such prophets as Amos." In an especially bleak passage, Kaganovich recounts
how this "secular general education heder," which was at the time illegal, was broken up by an
inspector.87 The tutor was dragged outside and beaten, and their educational tools were
destroyed.
Going forward, Kaganovich and his father had to fight for another local school to allow
him to attend. Some other children went back to the synagogue, but Kaganovich and his family
decided that was not an option for him. He was first turned away from the other school, run by
some of the rich Jewish members of the colony, because of his poor status. After numerous
83 Ibid.
84 Ibid.
85 Ibid.
86 Ibid.
87 Ibid, 37-38.
24View entire presentation