The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

It was a Sunday, the third day of Chanukah.

Savta and Zaidy spent the day with their granddaughters in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Tuvia, who is presently serving on the front lines protecting all of us from those who rise up to destroy us, was privileged to receive a rare two day-pass from the army to spend Shabbos and Sunday Chanukah with the family.

My wife and I took full advantage of this unexpected gift.

We arrived in Ramat Beis Shemesh in the morning while the girls were still in school.

The Bais Yaakov had no official classes during Chanukah; instead, in-school activities and projects were the order of the day.

Finally, It was time to pick the girls up from school at one o'clock.

Zaidy (that's me!) quickly joined Tuvia as we set out to pick up the girls.

As we arrived at the school, Adina (age 8) emerged from the school, clutching her Sufgania among the crowd of girls.

Each girl held fast to their half-eaten jelly doughnuts.

I immediately noticed that Adina was not her usual happy self.

Tears ran down her cherubic face as she pulled her father close.

"Why are you crying?" He asked.

"A girl wrote something not nice about another girl, and I told her to erase it. When she would not listen, I took the eraser and wiped the board clean. Then the girl made fun of me and made me feel bad."

Tears cascaded from behind her glasses.

My heart went out to Dini, and my tears of sadness flowed.

Back at home, Adina (AKA: Dini) continued to cry, her tears pulling at my heart.

Desperate to console her, I took her aside and asked her to tell me exactly what happened.

She related how she stood up for another girl being ridiculed, and then she, too, became the target of the same girl's mocking.

"Did you insult back the girl who made fun of you?"

I asked.

"No. I didn't. Instead, I told her I was sorry for making her feel bad. But she ignored me and did not say, "I'm sorry back to me."

With that, her tears continued to flow.

I looked at her with pride and told her that Hashem was so proud of her.

She looked at me with a quizzical disbelief.

I continued, "The Gemara teaches us that those hurt by others, yet do not "give back" and do not answer, are considered great Tzadikim and admired and loved by Hashem.

What you did today by not answering back and even apologizing to her made Hashem very proud of you.

Especially now, where Klal Yisroel needs Achdus, you gave Hashem so much Nachas.

Dini, not only did you stand up for someone being bullied, but you did not respond when you became the target. That is true greatness."

Dini's tears began to dry up.

She was now listening intently as her Zaidy continued.

"Dini, I, too, am so proud of you. The great Mitzvah you did today needs to be rewarded. Let's go to the toy store and get you a special prize for the beautiful Mitzah you did!"

Dini's face brightened as Zaidy asked to borrow his son's car.

Equipped with directions, Dini and I made a beeline to the local toy store.

As we entered the store, I said, "Dini, you can buy whatever you want. The Mitzvah you did today of not answering back is priceless and deserves whatever prize you want."

As grandfather and granddaughter made their way through the seemingly endless choices of dolls and games, I wondered what doll or item would catch Dini's fancy.

After passing high-priced American dolls and various games and gadgets, Dini asked, "I can really get whatever I want?"

Zaidy confirmed that, indeed, such was the case.

After looking at more expensive items, her eyes landed on a small, soft monkey, which cost less than twenty-five Shekels. (About six dollars!)

Monkey in hand and with smiles on their faces, Zaidy and Dini arrived back home.

A few minutes later, Dini emerged from her room.

She had made a little house for her new friend, with a bed and a piece of felt as a blanket.

Dini proudly showed Zaidy her new friend's little house.

She then pointed to the inscription her eight-year-old hand had written on the blanket.

"Zaidy Kanah Li" (Zaidy bought me this(toy) -along with a heart pointing to Zaidy.

It was now my turn to cry.

I bought Dini a small stuffed animal.

And she gave me back boundless love.

As always, I received much more than I gave.