"Do you know what a _Roshekol_ is?" Simon Eichelkatz asked me with a
mischievous smile, when I visited him this afternoon.
"A Roshekol is the head of a congregation," I answered. He laughed a
gentle, chuckling laugh, which was the usual expression of good temper
with him, and said:
"A Roshekol is a disagreeable fellow."
"But not always, Herr Eichelkatz?"
"Almost always, at least if you get your idea of him from the rabbi and
the cantor, nebbich, or even from the Khille in general. He is generally
arrogant, disputatious, autocratic, and ambitious. As he hasn't anything
else to rule, he wants to rule the congregation at least, and he insists
the poor officials shall depend upon his good-will entirely. He suffers
no contradiction, and as for the opinion of another, it doesn't occur to
him that it is entitled to any respect. He commands and the others must
agree with him. For they are nearly all dependent upon him, and,
therefore, are either for or with him. On the one side is his
_Mishpocheh_, on the other, people who stand in business or personal
relations with him. If he happens to have a so-called academic
education, matters are still worse, because on the strength of it he and
the Khille as well put on an extra touch of pride. He has some standing
in the city, too, is on good terms with the Goyim, and is generally a
city alderman. This makes a tremendous impression on the Khille, and it
doesn't occur to the _Narronim_ that they themselves made him alderman.
They say with pride: 'Our Roshekol must be a very intelligent man; he's
an alderman also!' The Roshekol, it is true, usually is an intelligent
person; but he lacks character and genuine goodness and humanity. It's
all on the surface--fine phrases, long words, but within cold, hollow,
and calculating. All he thinks of is to show himself off in the best
light and hurt other people's feelings."