The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

The other day I received a phone call from a congregant.

They began the conversation by saying, “Good Morning Rabbi Eisenman. Do you have a minute?”

I glanced at the clock when the call came in and happened to notice that the clock read 12:07 PM.

Perhaps it was a touch (or more than a touch?) of hubris, or maybe it was as innocent as to show my congregants how the rabbi is always “on his game.”

Whatever reason, I quickly “corrected” the caller by saying, “You mean ‘Good Afternoon.’”

The caller politely obliged me and said, “Good Afternoon.”

Then, the caller added politely and without even a trace of triumphalism, “By the way, I happen to be in Chicago, and it’s actually 11:07 AM here.”

I had no idea that the person was calling from a different time zone and that they were quite accurate in wishing me a “Good Morning”; after all, it was the morning for them.

We both laughed and debated the point for a moment.

Should the caller be sensitive to the time zone of the person they are calling, or should the receiver be mindful of the possibility of a different time zone of the caller?

Our discussion was academic, as neither of us would stand on principle.

However, after the phone call, I came to an important realization and learned an important lesson.

Indeed, I learned a particularly valuable lesson for the Nine Days.

Perhaps it was time I began to think of the place where the person I am speaking to is and to stop only focusing on myself and my position?

Perhaps I am too quick to always assume that I know “the place” of the person I am talking to and that it must be identical to the place I am at?

Perhaps, I am too often guilty of assuming that “the place and time zone” I am at must also be the “place and zone” of the person I am talking to.

It’s time for me to undergo a “reality check.”

The place I am at might be correct and legitimate for me, yet, I must always remember that the other person has an equal and legitimate place where they are!

“Never judge a person until you are at their place, especially when you have no idea where that place is!”