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Showman
Joe. The sanctimonious old fraud's been overcharging the people in this town long enough. Of course you'll have to justify yourself to the rabbi." In the communities of those days the rabbi was our judge of law, ethics and morality, as well as our spiritual guide. I knew the rabbi could stop me if he chose.
Wc had a very formal trial. The fishmonger had an arbitrator for his side. In turn, I had one. My father came with me, rather proud, I felt, that I dared to stand up to an established businessman. The fish man began by saying that for twenty-five years he had been serving the Jewish community. It was a matter of pride, he said, that he had been chosen in this humble way to serve God. Now, as he was pursuing his calling an upstart youngster had upset the delicate balance between him and his Maker. "This not a business," he said. "This is a service I render to the people."
It was the kind of argument that sounded pretty impressive. The rabbi was a selfless man and I wouldn't blame him for not approving of a youngster wTho dared to stand up against an older man. But my father smiled at me when it came my turn to speak; he nodded by way of encouragement.
I began by saying that I hadn't meant to hurt the fishmonger. "But after all our town has grown since he started and there is room enough for two of us. I'm not doing this to hurt anybody. I'm only trying to help my family. I'm making money to help them."
The fishmonger got to his feet. "See what I mean?" he shouted. "I do it as a service. I'm losing money every week and yet I don't care as long as I can help my people."
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