"The Festival (1938)" Summary

The narrator disobeys his father's request he not spend so much time with the Schneiders by following Friedrich to the synagogue. Everyone seems to pay particular attention to Friedrich, who, like everyone else, puts on his yarmulke (skullcap) and tallis (prayer shawl). The rabbi begins praying in Hebrew, and Friedrich accompanies him. The narrator is astonished. Friedrich whispers a commentary to the narrator, as the rabbi removes the Torah from the Ark and carries it in procession through the congregation to the podium. Seven congregants are invited forward and then Friedrich is - singled out for the first time in his life to read publicly from the Torah. While the scrolls are wrapped and put away, Friedrich reads a section from the Prophets and returns to his seat. After a prayer and a short sermon in German, directed at...