Bread Givers

Reb Smolinsky is Sara’s father. He is childish, prideful, and extremely religious. Reb Smolinsky spends his days studying the Torah, which he believes is the highest vocation. Reb Smolinsky does not work but makes his daughters and wife work for him because he believes that women are less than men. He runs his household as a patriarchy, where he has the final say on everything. Sara is the only person in Reb Smolinsky’s life who stands up to him, but instead of listening to what she says, he dismisses her as a disrespectful child.

As children, Sara and her sisters look up to Reb Smolinsky because of his stories from the Torah. Reb Smolinsky’s faith uplifts the family early in the novel because their religion gives them a semblance of control and peace over their lives. However, Reb Smolinsky shows that he only cares about his reputation and becoming wealthy when he starts marrying his daughters to men who he believes are rich. Reb Smolinsky’s poor judge of character lands Mashah in more poverty and Fania in a life of debt and gambling. Reb Smolinsky’s inflated ego comes from his elevated status in the Jewish community as a man of God. Reb Smolinsky believes that he is even more holy than the rabbis in his community because they study the Torah as a job. Even when Shenah asks Reb Smolinsky to consider becoming a rabbi so they have a higher income, Reb Smolinsky refuses because he believes that using the Torah for money would be sinful. Sara realizes that her father lives in a make-believe world and does not understand the pressure that Shenah and his daughters feel. An example of his disconnection from the world is when he does not understand why Shenah is so upset about him losing their money in buying the grocery store. Reb Smolinsky is so concerned with heaven and the next life that he does not care for his wife and children who are suffering in the present life. Instead, Reb Smolinsky enjoys living off the work of his wife and children because it allows him to believe that he is superior to them. Reb Smolinsky’s sense of superiority prevents him from having a meaningful relationship with his children because of his constant reminders to his daughters that he believes they are worthless unless they serve men.

Shenah Smolinsky is Sara’s mother. She is hard-working and sacrifices herself to support her family. She tells her daughters that she used to be as beautiful as Mashah when she was younger but that poverty has aged her and taken her beauty away. Although Shenah is married to Reb Smolinsky, who degrades her because she is a woman, Shenah shows her intelligence through her ability to support her family within her limited means. However, Shenah internalizes Reb Smolinsky’s misogynistic views, calling herself “stupid” because she is a woman. Shenah reinforces the patriarchy by giving Reb Smolinsky the best parts of their meager meals, even though she and her daughters are the ones who work and put food on the table. Although Shenah believes misogynistic things about herself, she does not view her daughters as inferior due to their gender, even encouraging Sara to pursue a career as a teacher.

After Shenah dies and Reb Smolinsky marries Mrs. Feinstein, Sara regrets the difficult life that her mother led. Sara watches Mrs. Feinstein wear expensive clothing and live in a way that Shenah never had the opportunity to live. Shenah’s life shows Sara how patriarchal control benefits no one, even women who try to uplift it. Although Shenah submitted to her husband’s will, making her a “good” wife, Reb Smolinsky continued to take advantage of her because she lived in poverty her whole life. Mrs. Feinstein’s aggressive nature forces Reb Smolinsky to buy her nice clothes and live in a beautiful apartment. Sara hates that Reb Smolinsky’s remarriage reveals the myriad of ways that Reb Smolinsky took advantage of Shenah. Sara’s greatest regret revolves around not spending more time with Shenah while she had the chance. However, throughout her life, Shenah loves Reb Smolinsky and fears what will happen to him after she dies because she knows how much she supports him as his wife. Shenah makes Sara promise that she will take care of Reb Smolinsky after Shenah dies because she knows he is helpless. Even in the last moments of her life, Shenah continues to care for her husband because she believes in the traditional values that she must honor her husband until her death.