Sholom Aleichem's Inside Kasrilevke

The author, who purports to be a native of the city returning after some time away, declares in his Foreword that "it has occurred to me that there is no better way of showing my gratitude to my friends in Kasrilevke for their hospitality [on his visit to his parents' graves there] than by spreading the fame of their city far and wide" (7). The author leaves no doubt in his conclusion that the people of the city are indeed hardy survivors of distressing circumstances:

This has ever been the fate of the little folk of Kasrilevke: when they dream of good things to eat---they haven't a spoon; when they have a spoon---they don't dream of good things to eat (222).

The ostensible purpose of the author is the creation of a travel book: "It will tell [strangers to the city] where to get off the train; what transportation to use; where to get a tasty meal or good glass of wine" (8), etc. Again, however, in reality the author has a much more humanistic aim: to portray the difficult lives of the residents and to engender the sympathetic emotions of the reader for that Jewish populace. His book is in fac

. . .
e you a sock in the puss, so your crunchers will go flying! . . . You potato-gobbling, noodle-guzzling, doughnut-grabbing idiot!" (28; 31). In his determination to show the people warts and all, good and bad, he shows the people to be both religious and materialistic. One stranger asks to borrow the author's prayer shawl to observe his duties of worship, while another tries to strongarm him into buying soap, or a comb, or a necktie (31-32). The farcical scene escalates as another character approaches the author, having heard that his purpose in town is to buy socks (36). Everything and everybody the author encounters defies his stated intent to honor the people and their city. He finds a thorough lack of hospitality and generosity. Rochel, for example, waiting on him in a restaurant, has nothing but insults for him. Nothing is too personal for the people to openly and immediately share with the author. Rochel's husband tells him all the tawdry secrets of their marriage. Finally, the author can take it no longer: "I interrupted my 'feast,' paid my bill, and ran out of the restaurant as if pursued by a hundred demons" (7). The characters are all unhappy with their lot, seeking improved material conditions, but not really having
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Inside Kasrilevke, Adam Eve, Noaich I'm, Here's L'khayim, Rabbi Yozifl, Reb Yozifl, people city, travel book, York Schocken, author purports, bad people, hard circumstances, portray people, god religion, sense community, visit town, adam eve,
Approximate Word count = 1652
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)