21st Century Bogatyr: On a Distant Planet, An Apartment in the City by the Sea

by Zvi Baranoff

Planet Birobidzhan is a sparsely populated world. Most of the mentshn live in small settlements and shtetls. Generally speaking, life on Planet Birobidzhan is slow paced.

The planet's largest city, New New York, on the other hand, is a crowded bustling metropolis.

New New York is truly the business, cultural, educational and industrial center of Planet Birobidzhan. The geologists and architectural experts amongst the Founders chose the location because of the fine natural harbor. The rabbis designated New New York as the primary city for building the grand yeshivas.

Situated in a near-tropical zone, there is a casual ambiance and a laissez-faire attitude there. One might be rightfully surprised by the degree of diversity from a city established to such a large degree by rabbis as a center for religious studies.

New New York is sometimes called the City that Never Sleeps. This is particularly true for the Tsenter Shtot. That urban core includes the Theater District. Here one finds the large entertainment venues as well as many smaller clubs, lots of restaurants, hotels, several casinos, the higher class brothels and a slew of bars.

The klezmer troupe had a two week engagement booked in one of the Tsenter Shtot's finest theaters. There were two performances scheduled for every day except, of course, Shabbos.

The klezmorim were settled into their own wing of a large hotel. It was a welcome reprieve for the troupe to stay in one place, sleep in wide beds, bathe whenever they wanted and to let someone else do the cooking.

Even with the heavy performance schedule, the chaverim had time to relax and play tourist in New New York. The city is made up of many neighborhoods and districts with distinct characteristics beyond the Stadt Zenter that are well worth visiting.

Tamar, however, did not play at being a tourist. The morning of her first full day in the city, Tamar went directly where the Mushrooms of Planet Birobidzhan had led her. She headed to Seaside Mea Shearim.

Seaside Mea Shearim is the oldest district of New New York. The yeshivas were built here. Much of the district is made up of apartments that serve as bachelor student housing. There is a neighborhood of mostly married students with young growing families. The district also has a variety of businesses that cater to the students. The families that run these businesses often live in apartments above or adjacent to their shops. Of course, the faculty of each of the yeshivas, and their families, also live in Seaside Mea Shearim.

The coastline is made up of dockage primarily used by commercial fishermen. Pleasure boats offering snorkeling trips also use these docks as well as a ferry service that offers transportation between New New York and Eilat four days a week.

The area closest to the boats are scattered with low cost bars and other sorts of distractions that appeal to fishermen, and an occasional yeshiva student.

So, in this way, the holy, the profane and the mundane coincide somewhat comfortably in Seaside Mea Shearim.

Tamar rode the streetcar from Tsenter Shtot to its terminal by the docks of Seaside Mea Shearim. From there, she walked past the large yeshiva that stands overlooking the harbor.

As Tamar approached the school, the rabbinic students that she had seen in her mushroom induced vision descended the steps. She walked behind those two, casually observing and nonchalantly eavesdropping.

The students were immersed in a debate of halachic fine points.Their hands gesticulated and payos swayed as they walked and argued from the yeshiva to their apartment. The two were chavrusa - studying partners - and roommates.

Tamar followed them unnoticed.

Tamar learned a lot about these two young men in a very short time. She knew that their names were Baruch and Shmuli. She knew that they were each highly intelligent. She learned their favorite foods, class schedules and where they lived. Tamar had a pretty good idea where they would be every mantik aun danershtag and where they ate lunch every mitvakh. Most importantly, she quickly became assured that these two young men were somehow linked to her destiny.

As Tamar continued strolling along the streets of Seaside Mea Shearim all the sights were familiar. The buildings, the trees, the street vendors, the cobblestones, the storefronts and more had been imprinted in her memories by her interactions with the Mushrooms of Planet Birobidzhan. Every footstep was preordained.

Tamar came to the bakery with the wide window display and the comforting aroma of fresh baked goods wafting from the open door.

Adjacent to the bakery was the door that Tamar had seen in her vision, with a handwritten sign tacked to it. "Furnished Apartment for Rent" read the notice in large block letters. The tighter script below, directed anyone interested to speak with Miriam at the bakery. So, Tamar removed the notice from the door and went into the bakery to meet Miriam.

The rental, situated above the bakery, was indeed quite comfortable and appealing. The apartment was being offered on a monthly basis. Tamar rented the place for six months.

Tamar negotiated a twenty percent discount on the Dire Gelt for the apartment above the bakery. She paid cash, in full, for the six months. Tamar insisted on daily pastries and challah every Friday from the bakery as well as a weekly delivery of wood to fuel the kitchen stove. Tamar's negotiation prowess would have made her father proud.

Tamar rode the streetcar back to Tsenter Shtot, arriving in the Theater District in time for the klezmer troupe's performance. She informed the chaverim that she would not be traveling with them when their touring once again continued. This engagement at the theater in New New York would be her last with the klezmorim.

The next morning Tamar hired a taxi to transport her instruments and clothing to her apartment above the bakery in Seaside Mea Shearim. She began to make herself at home, settling happily in her new neighborhood.

Tamar commuted to the theater by streetcar for the rest of the gig, fulfilling her contractual agreement but her heart and mind were elsewhere.

This is not a Jewish story. It is, however, a story about Jews. One does not need to be Jewish to read this tale any more than one needs to be a Hobbit or an Elf to read Lord of the Rings.

This story is a work of fiction. The setting for this tale is in the distant future, on the far away Planet Birobidzhan. This planet was settled by Jewish exiles from Planet Earth.

The population of Planet Birobidzhan has been cut off from the Home Planet for a long time. They have developed their own unique culture, traditions and linguistics.

The language spoken on Planet Birobidzhan is primarily Yiddish. I have sprinkled a significant number of Yiddish words and phrases throughout the telling of the tale. I also refer to various Jewish religious and cultural touchstones.

To make this story more accessible, I have included a glossary of words and phrases in Yiddish and Hebrew that are used as well as some explanations of religious terms and holidays.

I hope that readers find this to be useful.

The link to the Glossary is here:

https://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-useful-guide-glossary-to-planet.html?m=1

פּלאַנעט ביראָבידזשאַן

Do you want to read more about Planet Birobidzhan? Here are all the installments so far, in the order that they were posted. Just click your way through the story!

1 On A Planet Safe for Yidden

https://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/02/on-planet-safe-for-yidden.html

2 Yenne Velt: A History of Planet Birobidzhan

https://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/02/yenne-velt-history-of-planet-birobidzhan.html

3 Another Globe, Perhaps?

https://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/02/another-globe-perhaps.html

4 Bereshis: The Transport & Transformation of the Founders

http://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/03/bereshis-transport-transformation-of.html

5 The Town of First Landing

https://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-town-of-first-landing.html

6 A Personal History of an Early Settler on Planet Birobidzhan

http://21stcenturybogatyr.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-personal-history-of-early-settler-on.html