The Black Rooster
Isaac Meyer Dik
1889
A Brief Introduction
This story admittedly took place a long time ago and furthermore in a far-off land—in England, in fact. Yet in spite of everything, it is still important and worthy of being translated from English into zhargon [Yiddish], so that it can be read by our Jewish people. Not only is it highly interesting and entertaining, but it is furthermore highly instructive and highly moralistic. First, it makes clear that human blood does not remain silent, which is to say, it will be found out. Second, it shows that one sin drags with it a second one, as was the case here, where a forbidden love led to a secret murder. Third, it shows that one should not dare to obtain a confession from anyone suspected of murder or theft through pain and torture, because you thereby unwittingly accuse yourself, as happened here.
Credits
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 7.
