Talmudists I knew usually read in an undertone, humming their
recitatives quietly. He seldom did. Sparing as he was of his voice
in conversation, he would use it extravagantly when intoning his
Talmud

It is with a peculiar sense of duality one reads this ancient work.
While your mind is absorbed in the meaning of the words you
utter, the melody in which you utter them tells your heart a tale of
its own. You live in two distinct worlds at once. Naphtali had
little to say to other people, but he seemed to have much to say to
himself. His singsongs were full of meaning, of passion, of
beauty. Quite often he would sing himself hoarse

Regularly every Thursday night he and I had our vigil at the
Preacher's Synagogue, where many other young men would gather
for the same purpose. We would sit up reading, side by side, until
the worshipers came to morning service. To spend a whole night
by his side was one of the joys of my existence in those days

Reb Sender was somewhat jealous of him

Soon after graduation Naphtali left Antomir for a town in which
lived some of his relatives. I missed him as I would a sweetheart

CHAPTER II I WAS nearly sixteen. I had graduated from the
seminary and was pursuing my studies at the Preacher's
Synagogue exclusively, as an "independent scholar." I was
overborne with a sense of my dignity and freedom. I seemed to
have suddenly grown much taller. If I caught myself walking fast
or indulging in some boyish prank I would check myself, saying in