'The Wolf of Harbin'

Chapter 5

Even today, about two hundred Chinese citizens in the old Song capital, Kaifeng, list their religion as Jewish even though the city they live in has no synagogue, no services in Hebrew and no rabbi. These people hold on to this identity because they believe they are descendants of wandering Jewish merchants who took Chinese wives more than 1500 years ago. Several still live on a street with a sign that reads in Chinese characters: 'The Lane of the Sect that teaches the Scriptures'.

A few seconds later with the light fading fast but still the afternoon (just) before the opening of the Jewish festival of Hanukah: Saturday, 12 December 1925

Shaking his head modestly, to Meyer's outstretched hand, Wolf replied, "Nali, nali." Meyer didn't understand this Chinese expression but knew one meaning of 'nali' was 'where?' The Chinese lady who cooked for them used it sometimes. Wolf was asking, where was there anything to thank? Noticing Meyer's expression, Wolf made a grand gesture with his hand, which was both Jewish and universal in meaning: 'Don't mention it'. 'Nali, nali' was a handy phrase; he stored it away for later.

Meyer's eyes settled on rows of birdcages, hanging from two thick poles across the ceiling behind which he noticed a tatty instrument case on a shelf. The case was sitting next to some rusting daggers hanging from the wall above a pile of green rice bowls. "Looks like an old trombone case," he said to nobody in particular. Secretly he'd always wanted to learn to play an instrument.

Wolf smiled as he moved across to the shelf. But, he wondered, what was that on the side? There was an indentation on the otherwise plain case in the shape of a Star of David. Back home fiddlers sometimes carved Magen Davids, Star of Davids, where the neck met the body of their instruments. Something had been previously inset there – mother of pearl, maybe - but fallen out over time. Wolf's gaze continued to follow Meyer and the old man's eyes took on a penetrating quality, sizing up the young man in front of him. Wolf moved to the shelf asking, "What this is maybe you know, yes?" Wolf struck a match and lit a candle helping Meyer to spot smaller details. He saw it was really a dark wooden cylinder, attacked over time by long dead insects.

Despite its condition he could see it was from a bygone age. Also - though he couldn't say why - contemplating it made him happy. As Meyer moved closer he could see it was obviously much too antiquated to be a case for a trombone! But it was somehow familiar. He'd seen clasps like this before but if he was right, there would be a crown on top and two wooden rollers at the bottom. There was neither, so he wasn't completely certain, yet he didn't think his hunch was mistaken. Then he remembered Wolf's question. "You expected me to recognise this, Wolf?" he asked looking at the man who just smiled. If Wolf believed he would or should know what it was then his guess was probably correct.

"How old is it?" he asked without looking away from the box.

"Good, good. You know what is, no? You tell me what inside is, yes, yes?"

"How old is it?" he asked again.

"The man sold it to me said it came from Moorish lands. Maybe Fez or Marrakesh." He smiled. Meyer nodded.

"How old is it, Wolf?" he asked a third time.

Taking this as his cue to continue, Wolf looked at the wooden container, replying, "Perhaps one thousand years old he is Last of his kind man said. There is thirteen but now there don't have any more. All gone they are. All sold. Only one left." He paused and looked at the young man again. "He is very valuable, no?" He nodded his head clearly seeking Meyer's approval as if the boy was an expert. "Making me lot of money he will, yes?"

Meyer smiled and it was Wolf's turn to reword his original question, though more like a statement: "You tell me what inside, yes?"

Reaching out his hand to touch the cabinet, Meyer said, "I've never seen one like this before. But if I'm right it's the container for a Torah scroll." He saw Wolf's confusion and explained: "You say it's from the Middle-East somewhere? I think that's why I've never seen one exactly like this. Torah scrolls are the Jewish people's holiest books. They're written on parchment." He paused. For some reason he felt very excited. "Wolf, can I see inside?"