The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

With Rosh Hashana Hashanah just days away, and Droshos to prepare and write up, and congregants to meet with, this was the last thing I thought I needed.

I do my best to avoid mediating financial disputes.

They usually end with all sides disgruntled and having negative feelings towards me, and no one satisfied with my attempts at Solomonic solutions.

 

Yet, a rabbinic colleague pleaded with me to act as an outside mediator in this "one" case, and I agreed. My rabbi-friend assured me it was a "simple" case.

Of course, I would soon find out how not-simple it was.

 

I would not take a fee for my mediating prowess. However, I did request that a driver be sent to bring me to the Din Torah.

I arrived at the pre-arranged location after a forty-five-minute car ride.

The ride would turn out to be anything but routine.

 

The two litigants were a brother and sister, and they were at loggerheads over their recently deceased father's estate.

Chaim*, the younger brother, was a successful businessman.

His older sister, Chava*, was a struggling single mother.

Their elderly father had passed away almost a year ago, and Chaim, the only son, claimed he was the sole heir to the estate as the Din (strict halachik law) stipulated.

Chava, the undisputed prime caregiver to their father, claimed her father had verbally indicated that his estate be divided equally.

Although he never took the necessary halachik steps to ensure his wishes were fulfilled,  even Chaim never disputed his want.

After all, Chava's father has lived by her for the last eleven months of his life, and she should take care of his daily needs as only a loving, devoted daughter could.

 

Chaim was also open to supporting his sister financially.

Yet, he insisted that the Din be followed, and only at his discretion would he dispense funds to Chava.

Chava felt her brother should be Mochel his right to the estate and requested the money be shared, granting her financial independence without subjecting herself to the whims of her younger brother.

Yet, Chaim insisted that the Din be followed with no exceptions.

 

I listened with a sense of angst to Chaim and his insistence on following the Din in its exact form.

I silently davened to Hashem for the right words to say.

My mind drifted back to the unexpected and astonishing car ride I had just taken, and I was still frazzled by the details the driver had revealed to me.

The raw, shocking conversation with the driver consumed my thoughts and prompted me to speak surprisingly uncharacteristically harshly.

 

"Chaim, I am disappointed with your insistence on Din," I said.

"Please listen carefully as I relate what transpired during the car ride here.

There is no doubt that the drive and the conversation has more meaning for you than for me."

Chaim looked at me quizzically. Yet, I continued my story.

"The driver was a Thai man named Somsak.

When I entered the car, he commented, "I see you are Jewish."

I nodded and cautiously wondered why this man was asking me this question.

However, before my anxiety went through the roof, Somsak continued:

"I was in Israel on October 7^th."

I blanched in disbelief.

Somsak continued, "I worked in a Kibbutz.

I was there for the massacre.

I saw it all."

My jaw dropped.

Yet, Somsak was just beginning his story.

"As Hamas attacked, I hid under my bed.

Suddenly, from nowhere, a Jewish man ran to me and told me to escape.

He said, "You are not a Jew; you have a better chance of surviving; run as fast as you can, and don't stop until you meet a policeman or soldier."

I ran and ran until I finally met a soldier who saved me.

I was taken to Tel Aviv, where I remained for the next seven months.

Recently, I left Israel and came here.

You are my first Jewish person I have met since I arrived in this country."

I sat in my seat motionless and silent, not knowing what to say.

Somsak then did the most shockingly unexpected action.

 He pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and gave it to me.

"What's this for?" I protested.

"You don't owe me anything."

Somsak pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to face me.

His face showed the seriousness of his demeanor.

"I know I don't owe you anything. However, I can never repay the man who saved me.

I owe my life to his compassion.

Yet. I don't even know his name.

I want to give something back to the Jewish people.

Please give this money to a Jewish person who needs it.

Give it to a Jew who needs compassion."

With that, he handed me the twenty-dollar bill.

I took the twenty dollar bill, folded it into my pocket, and we soon arrived at the destination.

As I exited the car, Somsak reminded me of my promise to give the money to a Jew who needed compassion.

Chaim, I wonder who is the Jew who would most benefit from the money Somsak gave me?

I am struggling to find the Jew who needs compassion?"

Chaim looked at me with a look of disbelief.

 

"Chaim, we are just days before the great Din; yet, while most seek compassion, you insist on going according to Din.

 

Chaim, I will give you what I consider my Din.

I will give you what I consider to be the letter of the law, as you requested.

Listen carefully to my Din, as it contains the answer to your dispute with your sister.

I know now who is worthy of the gift of compassion which Somsak requested I give to a worthy Jew."

I removed the twenty-dollar bill from my pocket and placed it before Chaim.

 

"My psak is that according to the Din, which you insist be followed, you are the one Jewish person who can most benefit from the twenty dollars given to me by Somsak.

Somsak asked that I find the Jew who needs compassion. Chaim, you are that Jew.

You are the Jew who needs the gift of compassion.

Here, take it. It's yours by my Din."

I pushed the twenty dollar bill into his hand and turned to leave the room.

Chaim began to speak; however, no words escaped his mouth.

I left the room and headed for the elevator.

As I walked out down the hall and into the elevator, Chaim's cries from the depths of his soul could still be heard as the elevator door closed shut.