We went out for a Shabbos hisachdus for all the bachurim in shiur gimmel in one of the renowned yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael. We arrived at the campus, and each bachur put his things on the bed that would service him. That’s how we discovered that there were not enough beds. The campus was excellent, the hospitality wonderful, the conditions perfect for a Shabbos hisachdus, but there weren’t enough beds.
The person in charge hurried to speak with the people in charge, and after several brief, urgent conversations he came back with good news: There was a room about a seven-minute walk away where there were enough beds for anyone who did not have a bed.
Who was willing to go to this room?
No one. Why leave the whole chevrah and go to a room some distance away? True, it was not too far, and we would all meet at the tefillos and the seudos and the kumzitz and whatnot, but the whole idea of a Shabbos hisachdus is being together, and who knew what we would miss out on?
No one felt like giving in.
We stood there, several bachurim, looking at each other. I felt bad for the person in charge. I saw what an effort he was making for us. I thought about how much he’d worked so the Shabbos would be successful and everyone would enjoy themselves. So I could also exert myself a bit and give of myself. Nothing would happen if I gave in.
I said, “I agree to go. Anyone want to come with me?” Several other bachurim joined me, and we gave up being with everyone and instead took the room that was a short distance from the rest of the campus.
I felt good about this good deed, but ultimately, it turned out that we gained as well. It was a hot Shabbos, and at first the air conditioning worked at full blast. But on Shabbos night there was a blackout – no electricity in the bedrooms.
Everyone there on the campus had to deal with the heat, while we enjoyed ourselves in a pleasant room with air conditioning that worked properly throughout the night.
One doesn’t lose out from giving in. Didn’t someone already say that?
