By Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
I heard the following story from a friend [Yaakov].
Yaakov told me that around 1980, he was working in a bank by Kings Highway and Coney Island. When he applied for the job, he informed them that he is Shabbos observant and they replied, we have other workers that will cover your responsibility on Shabbos.
This went on for a few years. One day Mr. Herman came over to Yaakov and said, “In a few weeks on Shabbos is my fortieth anniversary. Do you think I should ask to be excused from work that day. I want to get an Aliyah by the Torah on this special day.
Yankel responded, Yes, and I don’t think the manager will give you a hard time, especially as you are giving him two-week’s notice. Mr. Herman then went to the manager and said, “In two weeks on Saturday is my fortieth anniversary, and I would like to spend the entire day with my wonderful wife. May I have the day off?
The Manager Graciously Agrees to Give Mr. Herman the Day Off
Of course, such an occasion doesn’t happen every day or to everyone. I will find a replacement and enjoy the day. Congratulations!
Mr. Herman then went to the shul he goes to a few times a year and asked them if he can have an Aliyah on that Shabbos. The gabbai replied, With pleasure, it would be our honor.
He came home and when he informed his wife of his decision, she was overjoyed. “I will put on a beautiful dress in honor of this occasion, and I too will attend the services in the synagogue.”
The Shabbos came and they walked together to shul. She stood next to the balcony, so she can see her husband being called up to the Torah, and clearly hearing him make the blessing.
He didn’t disappoint her. He remembered not only the brocha and said it fluently, but he also said it with the proper tune. She was overjoyed, or as we say in Yiddish, she kvelled with nachas.
After the kiddush in shul, they walked home together, and as he said, he spent the entire day talking and taking a walk with his wife.
The Wife’s Great Desire to Spend Every Shabbos With Her Husband
Towards evening she said to him, My dear, thank you for such a wonderful present. I enjoyed this day tremendously. I have one request, why can’t we spend every Sabbath like this? Why do you have to work on the Sabbath, can’t they get someone else?
Mr. Herman replied, If that is your desire, I will request it from the manager. On Monday when he entered, the manager came over to him and asked, Your wife enjoyed the anniversary present?
Mr. Herman was thrilled that he brought it up, and replied; she loved it so much that she told me to request that I no longer have to work on Saturday, as this way we can spend the weekend together.
The manager replied, I will work on it, but for a permanent change, you have to submit a request four weeks in advance.
Mr. Herman replied, “I understand. So, if you can find someone in a week or two, I will really appreciate it. If not, I will come in for the next four Saturdays.
He then went over to his co-worker Yankel and said to him, “Your few words of encouragement gave me the strength to ask for this past Shabbos, as well as for the future. The power of a few words and doing one mitzvah. Look what it leads to.
Reprinted from the Parshas Mishpatim 5784 email of Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber Avtzon’s Weekly Story.
