The Green Fields

2 Pages 469 Words

The Green Fields is the story of Levi Yitskhok. He leaves his studies in the big city to go into the country and find “True Jews.” The first person he meets on his journey is Avrom-Yankov. Levi asks Avrom-Yankov is he is Jewish and if there are other Jews around. Avrom-Yankov takes Levi back to the house where the family is excited to meet him.
They decide that Levi should stay with them and he will teach the children, both the children of Rohkl and Dovid-Noich and of Gitl and Elkone. The families argue over who he will stay with. Elkone wants him to stay at their house so that Stera can have Levi instead of Hersh-Ber. Dovid-Noich’s son whom they don’t approve of.
Levi complains that he misses his books and often talks of leaving. Everyone is trying to make him stay. Tsine is very upset at the prospect of him leaving. She is in love with him and very jealous of the love that her brother and Stera have. Tsine confesses her love of Levi to her mother and she finally understands why Tsine was so upset.
Tsine changes her ways to impress Levi; she starts to wear shoes and nicer clothes, she even cooks him a meal and learns how to write from Avrom-Yankov. Levi admires the work that all of them do on their farm. He feels that he too should be working in addition to studying the Torah. Levi finds it amazing how they can survive off of their land.
When Tsine is showing off her writing skills to Levi she leans in and kisses him and then runs off. Very soon after Levi asks Dovid-Noich for her hand in marriage. Both Dovid Noich and Rohkl happily agree. After a short argument where Hersh-Ber yells at Elkone it is also decided that Stera and Hersh-Ber will be married. There is much rejoicing and everyone lives happily ever after.
The end of this story is not a typical one in Yiddish drama. There usually aren’t happy endings. Also not typical of Yiddish theater or Jewish culture is the fact that there are two c...