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After reading the short stories in The Penguin Book Of Jewish Short Stories there were many that caught my attention. The tale of “Bontsha the Silent” seemed to be my favorite and the story of “The Pagan Rabbi” was definitely my least favorite. The story of Bontsha discusses a man who goes through his whole life “silent”. He was born in silence and died in silence as the story says. No one celebrated in his birth and when Bontsha died the wood that was his gravestone was burned so no one knows where he lays to rest. Many horrible things happen to Bontsha throughout his life; his wife leaves him, one man owed Bontsha money and went bankrupt never repaying him. Bontsha did not ask for any money but went on living his life. He never complained, and was always walking around unnoticed with his head hung low. Ironically however, when Bontsha got to Paradise, which I assumed to be Heaven, everyone knew whom he was. The young angels rejoiced in celebration and shouts of “Bontsha the Silent!” could be heard. God even knew that Bontsha had arrived. He was crowned with jewels and a throne even befo