The Books of Jacob

In Europe, the Seven Years’ War begins. In Moliwda’s town near Craiova, the inhabitants prepare for “the Last Judgement” (587). In Kamieniec, Krysa embarrasses the Rabbis who face Jacob’s followers in the disputation. Jacob’s followers win the court case and win public opinion to their side; the court orders that every copy of the Talmud, a Jewish holy text, should be burned. Moliwda happily agrees to return to Poland with Jacob and Nahman. Angry, emboldened crowds burst into Jewish houses and burn any book they find. The violence against books becomes violence against people.

A dinner is held to honor Bishop Dembowski’s promotion to archbishop. Father Pikulski teaches the attendees “what this Jewish fuss is all about” (581) and teaches them about gematria, a Jewish form of numerology (See: Background). Before Dembowksi can take up his new position, however, he suffers from a stroke and dies. From her unique position, Yente can see how “all the individual elements” (574) of the world are connected. The death of the bishop ends Jacob’s momentary protection from the law and he flees to Turkey, where rumors suggest that he has converted to Islam.