The following story began thirty years ago when a visitor from England came to the small neighborhood where I lived. Children and teenagers alike gathered around the visitor, each with their own question, but their main goal was to speak with the guest. After a few days I innocently asked the guest when he would be returning to England?! My question hurt him deeply as he thought that I was tired of him and he could go back to where he came from! From that day on he ignored me and I only saw him frown whereas he was kind to the other children. I felt terrible for offending him and I did not understand how I hurt him. All attempts to explain my intent were unsuccessful and they only increased his anger. I carried the burden in my heart for a long time, until time did its thing and the matter became forgotten in my heart.
Thirty years later I was sent on a trip to England. One day I felt terribly exhausted and I went into a shul to learn a little until I revived. In the far section of the Bais Midrash I saw someone who looked like that visitor. Hesitantly, I approached him and I asked him if he had visited a certain neighborhood in Israel thirty years ago. Before I could finish my question he replied in Hebrew: ‘Yes, that was me. There was a boy there by the name of (he mentioned my family name) who asked me when am I going back to England already!’ I then told him that I am that boy and for many years I have been carrying that burden in my heart when I had no intention to cause any harm at all! When he heard my words, the man was pleased, he forgave me completely and apologized for the misunderstanding. At that moment I felt a heavy load lift from my heart and I was filled with joy and I thought how the Creator arranged that after thirty years I could remove the pain from the man who was bothered so much that he even remembered my name. It happened that I again met him the next day and he was still pleased with me.
ש.פ.
