No More Fear: 1-The Shepherd Introduction (Translated from the Yiddish) Prepared by Leybl Botwinik

No More Fear: 1-The ShepherdNo More Fear: 1-The Shepherd

No More Fear:No More Fear:1-The Shepherd1-The Shepherd

IntroductionIntroduction(Translated from the (Translated from the

Yiddish)Yiddish)

Prepared by Leybl Prepared by Leybl BotwinikBotwinik


AA few years ago, few years ago,

Lior (a colleague and friend)Lior (a colleague and friend)

told me that his uncle told me that his uncle

had some Yiddish books, had some Yiddish books,

and asked me if I would and asked me if I would

like to have them like to have them

before they were disposed of.before they were disposed of.

No More Fear: 1-The Shepherd


Since it always pains me to see people throw out Yiddish books, I answered him positively

that, yes, I would come take a look.


His uncle, Moyshe,His uncle, Moyshe,


waited for us at the apartmentwaited for us at the apartment

No More Fear: 1-The ShepherdNo More Fear: 1-The Shepherdwhich was on the bottom floorwhich was on the bottom floor..


The previous owner had left the The previous owner had left the place almost entirely empty, except place almost entirely empty, except for a writing table,for a writing table,


and a bookshelf.and a bookshelf.


I took down a book of Yiddish I took down a book of Yiddish idioms and expressions that was idioms and expressions that was

published two years earlier, and it published two years earlier, and it looked quite old.looked quite old.

Another book, from 1920, of Another book, from 1920, of scientific terms (Russian-Yiddish), scientific terms (Russian-Yiddish),

on the other hand, was in an on the other hand, was in an almost newalmost new condition. The same condition. The same

with other books.with other books.

I pointed out to them the strange I pointed out to them the strange condition of the books: condition of the books:

Those that should have looked old, Those that should have looked old, looked brand new, and vice-versa.looked brand new, and vice-versa.



““He was a strange person,” He was a strange person,”

my friend Lior’s uncle, Moyshe, said.my friend Lior’s uncle, Moyshe, said.

““Always cooped up in the apartment.”Always cooped up in the apartment.”


““Rarely did I see him go out. Rarely did I see him go out.

And each time, looking different. And each time, looking different.

Sometimes, with a beard,”Sometimes, with a beard,”


““and sometimes clean-shavenand sometimes clean-shaven”.”.


““Sometimes with a mustache.”Sometimes with a mustache.”


““Sometimes, I’d see him with grey Sometimes, I’d see him with grey hair,”hair,”


“… “… and a few days later, and a few days later,

he’d have jet-black hair..”he’d have jet-black hair..”


““What did he do here? It’s a very big What did he do here? It’s a very big place for one person, and I don’t see place for one person, and I don’t see

any signs of furniture on the carpet,” I any signs of furniture on the carpet,” I said.said.


““Who knows…? He once told me that he was Who knows…? He once told me that he was in the business of importing/exporting in the business of importing/exporting

electronic and computer parts.”electronic and computer parts.”


As I looked again at the shelves of As I looked again at the shelves of books,books,


I noticed a bound folder.I noticed a bound folder.


““Do you have any idea what that is?”Do you have any idea what that is?”

I asked.I asked.


““Yes. I remember. He’d call it his “Diary”. Yes. I remember. He’d call it his “Diary”.

He once told me, that it contained his life’s He once told me, that it contained his life’s work. His dearest possessions.”work. His dearest possessions.”


““Interesting that he should leave it Interesting that he should leave it here.– Maybe he removed the important here.– Maybe he removed the important documents, and left the less important documents, and left the less important

ones.”ones.”


I untied the string and opened the I untied the string and opened the folder. Inside I found an old diary that folder. Inside I found an old diary that

was about three-quarters filled.was about three-quarters filled.


There was a hand-drawn map, and There was a hand-drawn map, and various documents. In addition, I found various documents. In addition, I found

some issues of a Yiddish newspaper some issues of a Yiddish newspaper “Ershte Nayes” (First News) – possibly a “Ershte Nayes” (First News) – possibly a spoof of the Hebrew “Yediot Akhronot” spoof of the Hebrew “Yediot Akhronot”

(Latest News)?(Latest News)?


There was a hand-drawn map, and There was a hand-drawn map, and various documents. In addition, I found various documents. In addition, I found

some issues of a Yiddish newspaper some issues of a Yiddish newspaper “Ershte Nayes” (First News) – possibly a “Ershte Nayes” (First News) – possibly a spoof of the Hebrew “Yediot Akhronot” spoof of the Hebrew “Yediot Akhronot”

(Latest News)?(Latest News)?


I opened the diary in the middle. I opened the diary in the middle. There was a date from about 30 years There was a date from about 30 years

ago: January 22, 1976. ago: January 22, 1976. I began to turn the pages. I was I began to turn the pages. I was

stunned. The dates jumped years stunned. The dates jumped years ahead, ahead,

and then back, but the days / months and then back, but the days / months were consecutive. Two pages later: were consecutive. Two pages later:

January 23, 1989…January 23, 1989…And the following page: And the following page:

January 24, 1966.January 24, 1966.Like the person himself, Like the person himself, this was quite strange.this was quite strange.


2222ndnd of January, 1976 of January, 1976



2323rdrd of January, 1989 of January, 1989


2424thth of January, 1966 of January, 1966




2424thth of January, 1966 of January, 1966



I opened up at the beginning, I opened up at the beginning, and immediately closed it.and immediately closed it.


I packed everything up in my car, I packed everything up in my car, thanked them, and drove home. thanked them, and drove home. There I left everything in the car, so There I left everything in the car, so tomorrow I could take it all down to tomorrow I could take it all down to my friend Mendi at the “Yung Yiddish” my friend Mendi at the “Yung Yiddish” library in Tel-Aviv.library in Tel-Aviv.


I took the folder with the diary and I took the folder with the diary and papers, inside. My wife and children papers, inside. My wife and children

greeted me, and I spent the rest of the greeted me, and I spent the rest of the evening with my family, until quite late.evening with my family, until quite late.


When everyone had gone to sleep,

I reopened the diary, and began to read…


““Saturday night, March 25Saturday night, March 25thth, 1911., 1911.

Today was the great fire in the Triangle factory Today was the great fire in the Triangle factory in New York.in New York.

It was terrible. I did everything I could to It was terrible. I did everything I could to rescue as many of the innocent victims as rescue as many of the innocent victims as possible.possible.

Unfortunately, it was next to impossible to Unfortunately, it was next to impossible to approach many of them, and too late to help approach many of them, and too late to help others. others.

How Brave they were. How Tragic their Fate.How Brave they were. How Tragic their Fate.

But like the legendary Phoenix, hopefully a But like the legendary Phoenix, hopefully a better, purer world for Jews and Mankind will better, purer world for Jews and Mankind will be born out of the terrible fire …”be born out of the terrible fire …”


Artwork: Nathaniel H. BotwinikArtwork: Nathaniel H. Botwinik

Photos and texts: Leybl BotwinikPhotos and texts: Leybl Botwinik

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No More Fear: 1-The Shepherd Introduction (Translated from the Yiddish) Prepared by Leybl Botwinik