He was the only musical instrument permitted, and on him devolved the whole onus of making the service attractive.

He succeeded.

He was helped by the sociability of the gathering--for the Synagogue was virtually a Jewish Club, the focus of the sectarian life.
Hard times and bitter had some of the fathers of the Ghetto, but they ate their dry bread with the salt of humor, loved their wives, and praised God for His mercies.

Unwitting of the genealogies that would be found for them by their prosperous grandchildren, old clo' men plied their trade in ambitious content.

They were meek and timorous outside the Ghetto, walking warily for fear of the Christian.