It didn’t seem like this Shabbos would be any different than every other wonderful Shabbos for Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, Rav of Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel. But then, something quite unusual and surprising occurred. Hearing some noise in his home, Rabbi Grossman wondered who it could possibly be. Making his way over to where the rummaging sounds were coming from, he soon stopped in his tracks. Taken aback, before his eyes stood a burglar. A Jewish burglar. Quietly tiptoeing backwards, Rabbi Grossman headed towards the front door and locked it. Yet he did not first walk outside and then lock it. Rabbi Grossman locked the doors while staying inside. He did not wish for the burglar to escape that easily. And so, there remained Rabbi Grossman and the burglar alone with locked doors.
Walking back towards the man shuffling through his house and looking for any valuables he could grab, Rabbi Grossman broadly approached him. “Can I help you?” asked Rabbi Grossman. “What are you looking for?” Perturbed, the burglar just stood there.
I am going to give you a choice,” continued Rabbi Grossman. “I can call the police now and they will be over here in a few minutes to arrest you. Or, I will offer you an alternative option. You can come here and spend a Shabbos with me from Friday night through Saturday evening. If you choose the latter, I will forego calling the police and will forget about this whole incident.”
The burglar continued to stand there startled. Hearing the ultimatum he was being offered, he said, “That’s all I have to do? Just be your guest for the Sabbath?” “That’s all,” said Rabbi Grossman. “I just want you to see what a Sabbath is like.”
And so, a date was set, and with that the burglar was on his way out the door.
While the burglar could have easily overlooked the whole deal made, he in fact kept to his word. As an irreligious Jew, he had never before experienced Shabbos in his life. Yet now would be the first time he would.
Accompanying Rabbi Grossman to shul, he was mesmerized by the beautiful Friday night prayers, delicious food, inspiring zemiros and enlightening Torah thoughts. By the time Shabbos came to a close, he had just gone through a life changing experience. Extremely interested in learning more about Judaism, he abandoned his unlawful behavior and instead went on to study more about his beautiful Torah heritage and roots. And today, he is a Torah observant Jew.
It all began with those words, “I just want you to see what a Sabbath is like.” Once this burglar experienced one Shabbos, it was the beginning of a new life. Its beauty and meaning penetrated his neshama, and no matter how far away he was from any semblance of Judaism and connection to Hashem was no deterrent. A new life he could never have imagined awaited him. All thanks to Rabbi Grossman and that one Shabbos. Yes, just one Shabbos.
