Meir looked sharply and a little ironically into the cantor's face.
"Eliezer, are you in earnest when you tell me that?" he asked slowly.
The cantor dropped his head.
"It was honest on your part, but it may cause you much trouble."
The young man laughed, but his laugh Was empty and forced.
"Nu!" said he with determination, "Let it come. I can't stand it any longer. I can't be silent and look and listen, while we are being made fools of."
"Child! child what can you do?" sounded from behind them in a lazy, drawling voice.
They all turned. It was the phlegmatic Ber who had entered during the conversation. Having thus answered the angry exclamation of the young man, he stretched himself on Eliezer's bed. It seemed that those present were accustomed to see him among them, for they showed neither the slightest impatience nor confusion. On the contrary, the conversation was continued. One of the young men, a relative of Meir's, half in doubt and in smiles, half in fear and seriously, began to repeat to the cantor the melamed's speech about En-Sof and the Sefirots, about the day of the Messiah, and the gigantic fish, Leviathan. Another asked Eliezer what he thought of a moral which taught that it was sufficient to study Mishma and Zohar in order to obtain pardon for evil deeds.
Eliezer listened silently. He did not answer for a long time; then he slowly raised his head and said:
"Read the Torah! There it is written: 'God is one, Jehovah! He is not satisfied with your sacrifices, singing, and incense, but he requires from you a love of the truth, to defend the oppressed, to teach the ignorant, and heal the sick, because these are your first duties.'"