Basya Tsybukmakher
Chapter VIII
If I were to write about what else happened in Metz, or about whether the Jews maintained their reputation as devout people, I could confine myself to mentioning that when I first came to Metz, there was a fine, devout community here, and its parnasim, the community leaders, were worthy men who graced the council chamber.
In those days, none of the men who sat in the council chamber wore a wig, and there was no instance of someone disregarding a decision of the Judengasse and appealing to a Christian court. When disputes and disagreements arose—and there were many, as there always are among Jews—the disputed matters were settled by rabbinical or communal courts. In those days, nobody behaved as arrogantly as people do now. People did not indulge in gluttony. Children studied diligently, and their elders took care to bring the most capable rabbis into the community.
When I lived there, the rabbi was the learned Rabbi Gabriel Eskeles, who also headed the school for Talmud study.
There is no need to speak of his piety; it is known to everyone. Nor is it for me to describe his virtues, for I could not describe even half of them—what am I saying? Not even a tenth!
His son married the daughter of the wealthy and influential Samson Wertheimer of Vienna. The funds given by the parents as a dowry to the bride and groom, together with the wedding gifts, exceeded 30,000 Reichsthalers. Rabbi Gabriel brought his wife, his son Leib, and the bridegroom, Rabbi Berich, from Vienna. The wedding was celebrated with a splendor unprecedented among Jews.
But is it worth writing about such things when I am unable to tell you all the details? I shall confine myself to a brief mention of the event itself, since everyone knows about it without my telling them.