“A Satin Coat”. A Short Story by Esther Singer Kreitman - translated from Yiddish by Ellen Cassedy - first published in Ichus: Short Stories [Yikhes (Pedigree)] (London: Narod Press, 1950).

“A Satin Coat”. A Short Story by Esther Singer Kreitman - translated from Yiddish by Ellen Cassedy - first published in Ichus: Short Stories [Yikhes (Pedigree)] (London: Narod Press, 1950).

This is a marvelous story with so much life packed into a few pages.

“The Gliskers had lived in the village since the beginning of time. Yidl Glisker’s store, which had been in the family for generations, supplied the peasants of the surrounding countryside with everything they needed. Yidl ran the business single-handedly. Tall and broad shouldered, he could hold his own against all comers, and for this the local people respected him. He wouldn’t allow his wife in the shop, except when he had to go out of town to replenish his stock. A Jewish woman, Yidl believed, should stay at home and look after the children. That way was best for all concerned. His wife, Rochel, believed just the opposite. But when Yidl said no, he meant no, so she didn’t argue. Instead, she started her own dairy as an outlet for her energies. Yidl didn’t stand in her way. As long as she stayed out of his affairs, he didn’t care what she did. Indeed, he was glad—the milk business gave his three girls something to do. He helped Rochel select several head of cattle, paid for them, and drank a celebratory glass of whiskey with the farmers to seal the deal. Rochel managed her business no less successfully than Yidl. Like him, she took care of everything herself. Alone she milked the cows, warmed the pans of sour milk, lugged the heavy stones used for pressing the cheeses. Alone she churned the butter and sewed the cheese bags. All her daughters did was tend the cows in the field.”

In this marvelous opening sequence we see deeply into the day to day life, marriage and family business of the Gliskers. With three daughters finding suit

 suitable husbands for their daughters is a top priority, given more urgency when the father came on his daughter laying in the field with a neighboring goy youth.  The Gliskers were prosperous but their ways and dress were that of peasants.  The father, who good only just read, hired the son on a noted Talmud to introduce him to the teachings of the Torah.  Soon they were the most prosperous family in their synagogue.  They donated a lot and were given the best seats.  Soon the father felt a need for a satin coat.

A marriage is arranged between the oldest daughter, may 16, and the older son of the Talmud scholar.  The daughter hates the idea.  I don’t want to spoil this story for potential readers but something amazing happens at the wedding.

I read this story in a delighful anthology 

BEAUTIFUL AS THE MOON, RADIANT AS THE STARS: Jewish Women in Yiddish Stories

Sandra Bark, Editor, Francine Prose, Introduction by , intro. by Francine Prose.

ESTHER SINGER KREITMAN was born in Bilgoray, Poland, in 1891. Her brothers, I. J. and I. B. Singer, became internationally acclaimed writers. Unlike them, she had no formal schooling; I. B. Singer’s story “Yentl the Yeshiva Boy” is thought to have been based on her unrealized desire for education. Her marriage to an Antwerp diamond cutter ended in 1926, after which she lived in Warsaw and, finally, London. Her stories and serialized novels were widely published in the Yiddish press. Der sheydim tants [The Devils’ Dance], an autobiographical novel, was published in 1936 and reissued in 1983 as Deborah. Brilyantn [Diamonds], another novel, appeared in 1944 and Yikhes [Pedigree], a collection of short stories, in 1950. She died in London in 1954.