The basement was finished, with track lights on a celotex ceiling. But the room was lit by candles, twenty or thirty of them, and in their light, the Sutter Lane elders of Laurel danced; they hopped and swirled, sashayed and skipped, the candle flames jumped in the draft of their bodies and cast wild, leaping shadows on the walls. Their jackets were off, their fringed shawls and their shirts shone in the candlelight. Luria was the biggest and handsomest; his shirt and shawl were wet with sweat and clung to him, outlining his muscles. The music climaxed, the circle broke, and the men danced in couples, singing, holding each other’s arms, circling each other; then Luria danced to the center of the room and stretched his arms and body. The others stopped to watch and he closed his eyes, let his head drop back, and he began a slow heavy dance that should have shook the little house but didn’t because he was so graceful. The light caught his hair, his beard; his feet came down without a sound and he danced faster. The music followed him; his white silk shawl came out of his belt and whirled around him, the fringes catching the light.

He whirled, singing; the light caught the edges of his teeth and his voice was moaning but full of joy at the same time. Rachel held on to the sides of the window as Luria’s song reached a sobbing climax and he froze for an instant; very tall and heavy, his body stretched as high as it would go; then he broke the pose and ran across the room to Leah’s crib and picked the little girl up. Rachel held her breath; he hugged her against his chest and kissed her. Leah laughed, squealed, then reached for her grandfather who was standing next to him, and hugged him, too. Leah could be there when they danced, but Rachel couldn’t. They wouldn’t let Leah in either once she’d reached puberty. Rachel watched her little girl and knew she’d be hurt then, and wouldn’t understand, and Rachel wouldn’t be able to explain because she didn’t understand either.

Luria leaned over, because he was so tall, and Jacob was so short, and he kissed Jacob. Everyone, including Leah, watched them. Then the men broke apart, and Luria said to Jacob, “Shabuoth tov.” Then the other men kissed and hugged each other, all wishing a good week.