By Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn
When Rochel Gold arrived in America with her husband and children, she was determined that her family not succumb to the prevalent American Jewish life of Shabbos desecration, eating non-kosher food and public-school education. This was quite a challenge in 1922!
Mrs. Gold’s first priority was finding a yeshivah for her nine-year-old Yankel. She heard of the Yeshiva Rabbi Yakov Yosef (RJJ) on the Lower East Side, and promptly went with her son to register. She was shocked when the principal told her that they were overcrowded and could not accept her son.
After trying many arguments and lines of reasoning, Mrs. Gold still could not convince the principal to accept her son. Exasperated, she asked, “How long must I wait to get him into your yeshivah?”
The answer shocked her. “Two years!” But she was resolute, so she stated with pride, “If we have to wait, then we will wait.” Mrs. Gold and Yankel sat on one of the steps on the front stoop of the yeshivah.
“Let him hear the children davening,” Mrs. Gold thought. “Let him hear the voice of a rebbi instructing a child. Let him see yeshivah bochurim. We’ll wait right here.”
They sat there for hours, she sewing and he counting the passing cars. During recess, one of the rebbeim noticed her and asked if he could be of assistance. She answered, “I am waiting.” He assumed she was waiting for one of the students. But when he noticed her a few hours later in the very same spot, the rebbi approached her and said, “Excuse me, but whom are you waiting for?”
She replied matter-of-factly, “I am waiting for my son to be accepted into the yeshivah. Can you help?”
The rebbi went to the principal and told him about the lady on the front steps. The principal came to see, but did not say anything because he knew he could not help her.
For three days, Mrs. Gold sat there with Yankel, sewing, talking, praying and waiting. She explained to anyone who would listen that all she was doing was waiting. By the fourth day her wait was over. Somehow, room had been made for Yankel. Yankel attended RJJ, as did his children after him. All of Mrs. Gold’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have remained frum. (In the Footsteps of the Maggid)
Reprinted from the Parshas Va’eschanan 5783 email of The Weekly Vort.
