THE BOOK FAIR

“The Fifth Servant”, the quintessential story of Eastern European Jewry addresses the Blood Libel and the Golem.

 

Set in 1590’s Prague, the Jews of the Ghetto go about their daily lives avoiding any possible incident to attract the ire of their Christian neighbors, as the life of a Jew always hangs on a precarious, unpredictable balance.

The small town, which lies along the border with Germany, awaits the Inquisitor, sent by the Pope to ferret out witches and non-believers.  The Bishop, pleased with his catch of hundreds of witches in Germany and France, all tried, sentenced and burned at the stake, comes upon the town.

The morning of Good Friday for Christians and the eve of Passover for Jews awakens its citizenry to the wails of a mother in search of her young child.  After the Christian child is found in a shop, inside the Jewish Ghetto, the Christians, both Protestants and Catholics, unite to avenge the murdered child.

As the Jews scramble to defend the small enclave of their homes, shops and synagogues, the Christians choose whether or not to help or raze their Jewish neighbors.  The Jews, “owned” by the state, seek help from the emperor’s realm, in Rudolf II, as they simultaneously and without measure, plead their case to God, with reminders to Him of help in times past.

 

Replete with Jewish history, the historic thriller is intelligent, scholarly, informative, powerful, and witty.  Rich, descriptive images of the era along with Wishnia’s use of Hebrew and Yiddish layer the story’s authenticity.  Wishnia includes the famous Rabbi Judah Loew, the Maharal, accredited with creating the Golem, and the Maisal family, who were active members in the Jewish community.  Excellent. Recommended.