Alter (The More it Changes)

Alter was a Jewish druggist in Kolomija. In August, 1772, he and Casimir, a Polish stonecutter discussed the inevitable arrival of Sabbatean haidamacks. They were soon joined by Yitzkhak the cobbler. All three agreed that they simply wanted to worship as they pleased. When Casimir described Sabbatai Tzevi as a "rotten Zhyd", Yitzkhak carefully pointed out that Jesus was also a Jew, and that even if Sabbatai had been a Turk, he'd still have created Sabbateanism.

Casimir suggested that fear of Joseph II might keep the haidamacks away, and then went about his business. Alter quietly suggested that he himself might grow like an onion with his head in the ground, which prompted uneasy laughter from Yitzkhak.