Although the Communists were inciting the masses against religion, many people remained faithful inside, even some official Communist party members. A Jewish spark burned within their heart even as they pretended to be good Communists outwardly.

In 1924, a high-ranking communist in the city of Gomel’s suddenly announced that he was suing for divorce soon after his wife gave birth to their first child, a son. The reason: his wife had the baby circumcised!

The Communists now had their chance to prove to Gomel's Jewish population how a young man was ready to sacrifice his family for the sake of his party. So they prepared a public show trial, and the courthouse visitors’ galleries were filled to capacity.

The judge, himself Jewish, called the husband. “Comrade, are you a loyal party member?” he asked.

“I am indeed,” said the husband, describing his high post in the hierarchy.

“Did you love your wife until now? Were on good terms?” asked the judge.

The man answered “Yes!”

“What then, Comrade, happened that you now wish to divorce her?” the judge asked.

“Comrade Judge, my wife gave birth to a son. I had hoped to raise him as a true Communist, but I came home one day, and was shocked to find that he’d been circumcised! Was I supposed to stand guard all day, neglecting my important work for the advancement of Communism? She is responsible!” the husband cried.

“Let the wife step forward!” the judge ordered.

“Comrade, are you guilty of perpetrating this heinous crime?”

“Comrade Judge,” she wept, “It isn’t true. He won’t listen to me. We live in a single room in someone’s house. I had to go buy food so I left my baby sleeping in his crib and locked the door. It took me longer than I expected. Imagine how frightened I was to find my door wide open! I looked around and saw that nothing had been touched, but my baby was gone!

“There was no one to ask, no sign of theft. I ran into the street like a madwoman when I suddenly saw my parents and my husband’s parents. Imagine my relief when I saw my mother carrying the baby. They had just taken the baby out for a walk, she said.

“But when I brought him home and changed his diaper I had a fit. How could my parents do this to me?” she screamed.

“Terrible,” the judge shook his head. “It is shocking that such religious practices still exist in the modern Soviet republic. Let the grandparents come forward.”

All four grandparents stood together. Both grandfathers had gray beards and the grandmothers wore kerchiefs. One grandmother who was more fluent in Russian, spoke for them all.

“Honorable Comrade, I admit that I can't see what’s wrong with our grandchild having a bris like all Jewish boys. But we didn't mean to do it. It just happened.”

The galleries reverberated with laughter. The judge called for silence and asked sarcastically. “How, Babushka, does a circumcision just happen?”

“We took our little grandson out for some fresh air to walk in the street. Suddenly a man we never saw before walked over and asked, ‘Would you like your grandson to have a bris like a Jewish boy?’ ‘Of course,’ we answered. He quickly took out a knife and before we knew what happened our grandson had a bris!”

The gales of laughter from the galleries couldn’t be contained.

“Babushka, have you finished your ridiculous story?” asked the judge.

“I've told you all,” said the grandmother. “But I want you to know that I am very happy.”

“Happy?” roared the judge. “About what?”

“Happy that our dear little grandson has a bris. Just like you, your honor! Aren’t you proud to be a Jew?”

Try as he might, the judge couldn't stop the titters and snickers. Eventually the courtroom was brought to order. The husband was called back to the stand.

“Comrade, Hero of Communism, if not for this most unfortunate affair, is there any other reason you have to divorce your wife?”

“No, Comrade Judge, none whatever.”

“If I tell you that she is not guilty, will you reconsider?”

“Of course, Comrade,” said the husband.

“Then, here is the decision. Your wife is innocent. It is all the fault of the grandparents who persist in these religious practices. They will be fined 50 rubles. This is the decision of the Soviet Court of Gomel.”

The bizarre story was meant to protect the mohel’s identity. But it was really no secret; everyone knew Reb Yitzchok Elchonon Shagalow, the only mohel left in Gomel after the Communists took over.

As the spectators filed out of court, they couldn’t help but admire the scheme of the young party-member and his wife to have their son circumcised while retaining his job and party membership.

Courtesy of The Yiddishe Heim