Review Essay: "The Shochet: A Memoir of Jewish Life in Ukraine and Crimea" by Pinkhes-Dov Goldenshteyn, Volume Two

Reviewed by Rabbi Moshe Maimon, Jackson, NJ

[This review follows the review of Volume One here.]

The second volume of Goldenshteyn’s memoir continues to captivate, brimming with the same dazzling color and detail that defined the first. The author’s fluid writing style, combined with his knack for capturing nuance and subtlety, makes this volume difficult to put down.

Picking up in 1873, the narrative follows Goldenshteyn as he secures his first position as a shochet in Slobodze, Ukraine. His time there is brief and marked by hardship before his journey leads him to Crimea. It is there that he raises his family and endures 34 years of trials and tribulations. This volume chronicles Goldenshteyn’s adult life through his emigration to Israel in 1913 and his harrowing experiences during the First World War. His memoir offers a vivid portrait of Jewish communal life, family relationships, religious beliefs, social hierarchies, and the complex interplay of politics and daily survival.

Goldenshteyn, self-assured and unwavering, appears to relish recounting his relentless battles against those he perceived as adversaries. And adversaries, in his telling, seemed to lurk behind every bush and around every corner. The entire narrative is structured around his struggles against the obstacles of life, often compounded by the supposed sinister dealings of communal leaders, with the ultimate chapter designated to demonstrate how, through it all, Goldenshteyn’s steadfast faith is rewarded with the manifestation of Hashem's justice against his enemies.

If Goldenshteyn's account stands as a testament to divine providence for those who act righteously, it also serves as a harsh indictment of the Jewish communal leadership in the towns where he lived. His portrayal of lay leaders as vain, petty, and self-serving raises the question: Could it really be so? Was every setback he faced truly the result of jealousy and vindictiveness?

Goldenshteyn himself leaves no room for doubt, firmly believing in the righteousness of his cause, and the justness of his actions. Still, it is a staggering number of greedy and manipulative villains that lie vanquished at the feet of our hero by the time his tale is done. In defense of Goldenshteyn, it must be noted that his self-assessment is corroborated by contemporary portrayals, including a newspaper article that was printed in his lifetime [reproduced in an appendix], and interviews the editor conducted with surviving members of the related families discussed in the memoir.

While Goldenshteyn’s narrative is undeniably compelling, it is regrettable that a writer of his observational skill and remarkable memory did not devote more attention to chronicling the customs, habits, and histories of the Jewish communities he encountered. This omission is particularly poignant regarding the Crimean Jewish communities, where he spent the majority of his adult life. Given the scarcity of historical literature on these communities, Goldenshteyn’s reflections would have been invaluable.

Goldenshteyn’s son, Refuel, partially addressed this gap with a dissertation he wrote on the subject, and relevant excerpts from it are cited by the editor. Still, one cannot help but lament the absence of Goldenshteyn’s personal and often witty reflections. His keen eye and engaging storytelling could have brought Crimean Jewry to life in a way no academic work could fully capture. This leaves the reader with a lingering sense of what might have been, had he turned his gaze from his adversaries to the vibrant cultural landscape around him.

Particularly worthy of celebration is the exceptional work of translator and presenter Michoel Rotenfeld. Once again, he has demonstrated meticulous dedication in tracking down every reference and verifying each detail. His comprehensive notes provide invaluable context, enhancing readers’ understanding of the narrative. Additionally, Rotenfeld’s inclusion of appendices featuring archival material from Goldenshteyn and his family, alongside contemporary portrayals, is especially commendable. His thoughtful treatment of the remainder of Goldenshteyn’s life and the accounts of his descendants adds a meaningful dimension to the memoir, connecting past and present in a poignant manner. This is yeoman’s work of the highest order and sets a gold standard for future presentations of memoir literature.

Purchase the second volume here and the first volume here.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Errata:

p. 604:

“FIGURE 24. Left to right: Pinkhes-Dov Goldenshteyn’s second wife, Feyge…”

Should read “Right to left” as the description of Fayge that follows is clearly referring to the woman pictured on the right.

p. 628:

The item marked 14 in the illustration should properly be marked 12, as evident from the Key appended to the illustration.

p. 814:

The initials רדפ"ק should properly be opened as רב דפה קהילתנו.

p. 815 fn. 4:

“Isruel writes their surname of Goldenshteyn, which means “gold stone”, in Hebrew translation as Even-Zahav.”

It should be noted that Isruel only does this when referring to Refuel, but not when signing his own name at the end of the certification where he retains the original Goldenshteyn. It should be further noted that opening salutation does not address Refuel as a brother of Isruel and does not belie any prior association between the two. Apparently, the translation of Goldenshteyn to Even-Zahav was a small ruse designed to conceal that the certificant was a brother of the certifier, the knowledge of which might risk calling into question the veracity of the certification.