The Short Vort
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The Short Vort- -“The New Baby ” (6/14/10)
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Monday the 2nd of Tammuz 5770 and June 14, 2010
The New Baby
Joshua the son of Perachia would say: “….and judge every man to the side of merit.”
(Pirkei Avos 1:6)
I was davening Hallel yesterday (Sunday) morning at the 5:55 minyan when I noticed a late comer arrive in shul at about 6:30.
Although on a weekday the sight of someone arriving late at an ‘early’ minyan is not uncommon- as the person perhaps woke up late and now had to rush to ‘make the train’, on a Sunday morning it was somewhat strange.
After all, in just twenty five minutes at 6:55 another minyan would begin and they would continue unabated for the next three hours on the hour and on the half hour.
I knew the man who arrived late did not work on Sunday so why on earth did he insist on joining our minyan which was already beginning Hallel?
As embarrassing as it is, I cannot deny the fact that my initial thoughts about this man’s conduct were not the most favorable.
However, I said to myself, “This is wrong. What about “and judge every man to the side of merit”? I must practice what I preach and therefore I decided to figure out some sort of ‘zechus’ (merit) to explain his conduct- no matter how far fetched it may be.
First I thought that perhaps he has an emergency business meeting; however, that one really did not fly.
Then I remembered that his wife is expecting and although I did not know when she is ‘due’, however, I said, “Well you never know and for all I know his wife gave birth last night and is arriving straight from the hospital”.
That explanation seemed to ‘do the trick’ and I continued on with my davening.
With Hallel concluded we proceeded to Krias Hatorah and as the Torah was being taken from the Aron the fellow came over to me.
Before he uttered even one word, he smiled and quickly flashed the pink plastic hospital baby bracelet in front of me.
“Mazel Tov Rabbi; Brenda just gave birth to a baby girl. I arrived at Shul directly from the hospital”.
“Mazel Tov! Yitzchak; you have made me doubly happy. First of all I am happy for you and Brenda. Secondly, the news of the birth has once again proven to me the truth of the teaching our sages! (You have also given me a great story for the Short Vort!”)
A few minutes later Eliana Nikelsberg the first daughter born to Yitzchak and Brenda Nikelsberg was officially named in Shul to the calls of Mazel Tov from all the mispallelim.
May the Nikelsbergs have much Nachas from Eliana and may she continue to be an inspiration to all in proving once again the truth of the teachings of Chazal!
Mazel Tov!