Mazel Tov

An elderly woman tells the following story to a group of children at a party: Morris Brown, a wealthy, Jewish clothing manufacturer in New York, who has changed his name from "Brownstein," travels to Galicia with his rambunctious daughter Mollie to attend the wedding of his brother Mottel's daughter Zelda. Mottel, who is a well-off merchant, supports Jacob, a poor Talmud student, as is the custom. Also in Mottel's household are Shabse, a servant, and Mochel, whom Shabse considers an idler. During Yom Kippur , the Day of Atonement, Mollie secretes an English language book inside her prayer book. Famished, she sneaks into the kitchen during the religious service, and although fasting is expected on the solemn day, she gorges herself on chicken, bread and apples, which is being kept for the evening when the fast is to be broken. At the end of the day, Mochel discovers a cat and dog eating the remains of the food. He accuses Mollie, and Morris sends her to her room. Upset at Mochel, Mollie dons boxing gloves and challenges him to a bout. After she knocks him down, Morris slaps and spanks her. Before Zelda's wedding, Mollie shows the boys how to do the latest American dance, and Jacob's thoughts wander from the Talmud to Mollie. When Mollie gets on a table to demonstrate, the cantor brings Morris, who drags her down. On the evening before the wedding, Mollie, with bobbed hair, dresses as a boy to be with the men, but Shabse tells Morris, and he spanks her in front of everyone. Later, when Mollie sees Zelda in her wedding dress, Mollie tries on the headpiece and suggests that they go through a mock marriage for fun. Jacob is dragged in to play the groom, and Mochel, who plays the rabbi, gives him a ring, but warns him not to put it on Mollie's finger. Jacob, however, puts the ring on her finger, and the cantor says that according to Jewish law, Jacob and Mollie are now married. During Zelda's wedding, as everyone else dances, Mollie cries in her room. Morris then comforts her and dances with her. Afterward, at the rabbi's home, Jacob is asked to give Mollie her freedom, but he refuses, saying that he loves her. Jacob is called an infidel by the other students, and after his uncle in Vienna, wealthy manufacturer Alfred Freed, invites him to live with him, Jacob tells the rabbi that he is going away and that if Mollie still wants a divorce in five years, he will give it. When Jacob arrives at his uncle's home, he is at first thrown out by the gardener. After Alfred realizes he has come and sends the servants for him, Jacob runs from them, but they capture him and bring him to the house. At night, Jacob thinks of love. Meanwhile, Morris takes Mollie sightseeing. Jacob soon discovers the books in his uncle's library and goes to a barber shop, where his beard is shaved off. Near the end of the five years, Jacob has turned into the author "Ben Alli," and he gives a reading at the Oriental Academy, where he is made an honorary member. Mollie and her father attend the reading and do not recognize him. Mollie is attracted to "Ben Alli," and when he begins to court her, she worries that she is still married. After the five years are over, Jacob dons a false beard and affects the stooped stance of his former self, and when Mollie visits Freed's home and sees him in this guise, she almost has a heart attack. Morris berates Jacob and says that he had to remain in Europe for five years away from business because of him. When Morris threatens to hit Jacob unless he gives Mollie her freedom, Jacob hands over a divorce paper, which says "Ben Alli is only Jacob in the guise of greater fame, but Jacob surely loves you so what is in a name." He then takes off his beard and asks Mollie if she still wants a divorce. She says no, then has everyone turn away and kisses Jacob.