Yehuda Leib

Yehuda Leib is the son of Shulamis and Avimelekh, though he does not know his father's identity until Issur kills Avimelekh. Yehuda Leib is an intelligent boy, but he has not paid attention in school, meaning he is uneducated. He demonstrates repeatedly that he can figure things out. He is loyal, brave, and kind. For example, when he and Bluma are crossing back into Tupik, he is able to pay for his passage because he has one of the Dark Messenger's coins. He refuses to leave Bluma behind when the ferryman discovers she has nothing of value and gives up the red color of his scarf to pay her passage.

Yehuda Leib has been scarred by the lack of a father. In one of the earliest scenes of the novel, he gets into a fight with a boy named Issur because Issur called him a “bastard.” Yehuda...