Chapter 3 Summary

It takes the rabbis nine months to come to a decision; meanwhile Elka gives birth to another child, a girl. Gimpel takes care of the necessary religious ceremonies and is again the butt of jokes in the community. This time he decides that nothing good comes of not believing. "Today it's your wife you don't believe; tomorrow it's God Himself you won't take stock in."

The rabbis decide that there is an obscure reference in Maimonides, which makes it possible for Gimpel to go back to his wife and family since he has decided that he made a mistake. He wants to rush home but decides to finish his workday and take food when he goes in the evening. He rushes home joyously, looks in on the new baby, and falls in love with her immediately. He then finds the bakery apprentice, who...