The Butcher's Synagogue was one of the most beautiful synagogues or  Beit Medrashim on synagogue hill.  Most significant were the artistic drawings created by the renowned  Lida artist, Tager, who created them according to the directives of the active leaders of the Butchers'  Synagogue.  The Shamesh of the synagogue was R'Zundel - a slender Jew with a small thinly whiskered  black beard.  Always on the run - never had any time.  He did everything even though he was the  shamesh of the Butcher's synagogue.  It was quite a job to make a minyan during the week.  He would  be quite a sight He would stand at the entrance with his Tallit and Tefillin and would stop every passerby  and tell them they need only one more person for a minyan.  No one could say no to him - tell him they
 have no time - before they knew it they were already inside in the Beit Medrash.  Zundler had a two part  task - to stand in the door blocking the exit after all the work to get the person in all the while still getting  someone to come in - 8 more Jews.  And again he repeats the same thing. Only one more Jew is  missing and the proof is that I (Zundler) am already in Tallit and Tefillin; all ready to pray.  Because of all that effort on Shabbath and Holidays his task  was not so arduous.  Butchers on their own  came to pray.  Dressed in holiday garb you felt you were among your own and had a common language.  During the  "layen" period, the men would speak in Polish telling each other tales of the week past -, who bought a  bargain at market(a calf at a good price) who got a a good bid for a cow.  The chatter went on until the  Gabbai interferred by asking for quiet in order to pray.  The congregants go in to pray.

Copyright © 2002, Lida District Researchers