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The Short Vort- -“The Smile” (6/23/10)
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Wednesday the 11th of Tammuz 5770 and June 23, 2010
The Smile
Dateline: Passaic, NJ 8:12 A.M.- Wednesday morning.
On the way home from shul I walk directly by the main entrance to the public school which is next door to the Ahavas.
On those mornings when I am on my way home at about 8:10, I usually pass teachers hurrying to their jobs and doing their best not to be late.
As I was walking home from shul today, I noticed a woman coming toward me.
She was obviously a teacher hurrying off to teach the next generation the ‘3 R’s’.
Over the years I have come to recognize some of the teachers and many of the teachers know me as well. I always say ‘Good Morning’ and they reply in kind.
I know the names of the custodial staff: Shawn and John; and they always reply, “Good Morning, Rabbi; how are you?”
However, I do not know all of the teachers, aides and educational specialists who come to the school on a daily basis.
The teacher coming towards me this morning was from the second group; those who do not know me and I do not recognize them.
Many of the ‘new’ teachers -at first- view me with a certain sense of suspicion; especially on a day such as today, with the temperature hovering at 90 plus degrees.
I can read their eyes as they see me. If their eyes could talk they would say, “Who is this man with the long beard and the long black coat? Why is he wearing a black hat and coat on an “H-H-H” day? Is this the rabbi?”
Notwithstanding their obvious suspicion of me, indeed, precisely because of it, I always make a point of greeting those somewhat fearful teachers with a big smile and a cheerful hello.
However, the woman coming towards me was a challenge. Not only did she have the “who is this weirdo in the funny hat and long coat on a hot day” look; she also was running late and she certainly was in no mood to ‘chap a schmooze’ with me today.
However, that made the challenge all the more exciting.
As she came closer I armed myself with my best smile and cleared my throat.
As soon as she came into the range I burst forth with my initial volley specifically designed to crack even the most severe and acute form of morning melancholy.
“GOOD MORNING!” I declared.
The first burst of fire certainly caught her off guard and she began to teeter and waver even in her hardened state of choleric cantankerousness.
She attempted to recover and return to her surly swagger, however, I was too quick for her as I immediately followed up my first burst of fire with a flashing smile.
This was too much even for Ms. Disagreeability and she reluctantly conceded defeat and ever so slowly turned to me and said with a small sparkle in her eyes, “Good Morning”.
Ah, another habitual grumbler succumbs to the indomitable power of the smile.
Never, never underestimate the power of a smile; it can topple the most powerful of people and overcome the most forceful of foes.
