RABBI MEIR-SIMCHAH HAKOHEN OF DVINSK
                              (1843-1926)

"Mankind consists of Hamlets and Don Quixotes."
                                  --Turgenev


My kinsman, he was called the Prodigy
Of Dvinsk, for annotating his first book
At thirteen years of age. Courageously,
In World War One, although the whole earth shook,

When high explosive shells were raining down
And almost all the Jews of Dvinsk had fled,
"As long as there are nine Jews left in town,
I'll stay and be the tenth," Meir-Simchah said.

Then, following the German occupation,
The Bolsheviks came in. He was arrested,
But when some local Gentile Reds protested,

They let him go. His shield good reputation,
With pen for lance, for armour long black coat, he
Set forth, a learned Jewish Don Quixote.

 

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