Yossi and Sheindel—a match, or not?

By Rabbi Baruch Lederman

SAN DIEGO — The Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora describe in detail, the procedure followed by a Kohain when he examines a person for tzaraas, a leprosy-like disease. One of the  guidelines a Kohain utilizes while checking out a person’s skin, is the fact that every hair on the human body has its own separate source of nourishment. Thus each hair is  independent.

We can learn from this by analogy, that each person is individual and unique – both in terms of their needs and abilities. Hashem orchestrates the world and takes care of us in  amazing unexpected ways, as the following true story illustrates:

Mendel Goodman (names of all people and cities have been changed) was a businessman in Longwell Michigan. His 20-year-old daughter Sheindel helped out in the business.  One Friday morning, one of Mendel’s clients said to him, “Mendel, your daughter is a gem. Take my advice, there is a young man I met last week named Yossi Rosenberg from  Canada. He learns in Yeshiva Yagdil Torah. He has ‘alla maalos’ – every good quality you could ask for in a husband and son-in-law. He is pious, diligent, refined, smart, kind,  talented and good looking to boot.”

Mendel replied, “Thank you for thinking of us. I know our Sheindel is really special. I want a boy who is worthy of her. Right now we have plenty of offers and we are weighing our  options very meticulously.”

“But Mendel, you have to go after this. You can’t just pass up on a boy like Yossi.”

“Perhaps we will get around to this boy of yours eventually,” said Mendel as he grabbed his hat and hurried out of his office. Mendel always left work early on Fridays in order to  give himself time to prepare properly for Shabbos.

He arrived home and got about his Shabbos preparations. Suddenly he heard a loud groan from the kitchen. There he saw his wife on the floor. She felt a sharp pain in her side. It  was so intense; that she put down the bowl she was holding and keeled over. She was now writhing in agony. Mendel called the ambulance and had her rushed to the hospital.

She was examined and the doctors told them that it was a kidney stone. Although a kidney stone is extremely painful, it is generally not fatal, so all in all it was a relief. The doctors  said that Mrs. Goodman would need to stay in the hospital for observation. Yaakov decided to stay by his wife’s side over Shabbos but there was no way to get food for Shabbos.

Just then, he saw a young Jewish man clad in Yarmulke and tzitzis approaching. “I heard from one of the nurses that you are going to be stuck here for Shabbos. Here take this. It  should tide you over.”

Mendel looked in the bag and it contained a number of grocery items including grape juice and some Challah rolls. To Mendel, who was starving by now, it was a feast. Before he  could say anything, the young man politely excused himself, wished Mendel a Good Shabbos and a Refuah Shelaimah for his wife, and was off (after all, he too needed to get  home for Shabbos).

Later, Mendel made Kiddush for his wife and told her of their mysterious benefactor. Since Mendel had plenty of time on his hands – he wasn’t going anywhere all Shabbos – he  asked around the hospital to see if anyone knew who that young man was. He wanted to pay him back for all the groceries or at least thank him. Mendel found out who the Jewish  patients were and described the young man. Maybe he had been visiting a friend or relative in the hospital.

“I know whom you’re talking about,” said one of the nurses, who overheard Mendel’s questions, “That young man is a saint. He stops in here every Friday afternoon and visits with  whoever happens to be here. He doesn’t have any friends or family here, he’s not even from around these parts. He once told me he was studying in some Jewish school in town,  but he comes from somewhere like Canada.”

Mendel’s ears perked up. This was the second time that day he heard the word Canada. “What’s his name?”

“I believe his last name starts with an R and his first name is some Hebrew name. I think it’s Yuppie or something like that.”

Mendel ran straight for his wife’s room. He blurted out excitedly, “I know why we’re here! It’s because of Sheindel”

His wife was taken aback. She had never seen her husband so worked up, “Sheindel had nothing to do with it. I have a kidney stone. Mendel, what’s the matter with you.”

Mendel excitedly told her everything that had transpired that day, including his conversation of that morning. “This is the boy for our Sheindel! I know it.”

As soon as Shabbos was over and his wife was released from the hospital, Mendel wasted no time seeking out Yossi. He went to Yagdil Torah and observed the young man,  davening and learning Torah in the beis midrash (study hall). Mendel was even more impressed now, after seeing his obvious sincerity and piety.

Normally, Mendel would take a long time checking a boy out, before approving him for his beloved daughter, but here Mendel knew all that he needed to know. He made haste in  arranging a date for Yossi and Sheindel.

The next week, Yossi was standing at their door. As soon as Sheindel laid eyes on Yossi, she knew he was the one. He was a beautiful person – inside and out – and Sheindel  could sense his purity and his adelkeit (gentleness).

The Goodmans sat in the parlor with Yossi. Mrs. Goodman began, “Tell me Yossi, are you related to the Rosenbergs in Toronto? I’ve heard so many delightful things about that  wonderful family.”

Yossi responded, “My name isn’t Rosenberg, it’s Rosenfeld; and I’m from Montreal. My parents, Herschel and Esther Rosenfeld, run a family business there.”

Mendel’s jaw dropped upon hearing the name Herschel Rosenfeld. He never wanted to hear that name again. After his dealings with him, he knew Herschel Rosenfeld all too  well. There was no way any daughter of his would marry into the family of that despicable man.   (To Be Continued)

Dedicated by Michael & Leah Bernstein in memory of her mother Feiga bas Dovid Yaakov.Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah.  He may be contacted at baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com

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