Reb Yehoshua Ozer Halperin of Manchester was a close Talmud and later a Gabbai of the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, Reb Yehuda Zev Segal ZT”L (“Rosh Yeshiva”). It wasn’t surprising that when Reb Yehoshua Ozer got married in Montreal, the Rosh Yeshiva agreed to fly in from England for the wedding. While in town, the Rosh Yeshiva was hosted by “Reb Yoni” who was to drive the Rosh Yeshiva to the wedding and to attend the wedding with him.
As is often the case, the wedding got off to a late start. At 11:30 PM, the Rosh Yeshiva informed Reb Yoni that he was ready to be taken back to his house.
“But we haven’t even benched yet,” protested Reb Yoni, who was a close friend of the Baal Simcha and had intended to remain until the wedding was over. Reb Yoni was surprised that the Rosh Yeshiva wanted to leave when he did, especially after making the long trip from England just for the wedding.
“It’s all right. I have benched already,” replied the Rosh Yeshiva. “Please drop me back at your house and then you may return to the hall until the wedding is over.”
Reb Yoni tried convincing the Rosh Yeshiva to remain a little longer but to no avail. Reb Yoni had no choice but to bring the Rosh Yeshiva back home. When the car pulled up in front of the house, the Rosh Yeshiva got out of the car and encouraged Reb Yoni to return to the wedding which he did.
The next morning, the Rosh Yeshiva provided Reb Yoni with the following explanation of why he insisted that he be brought back home from the wedding when he did.
“As we stepped out of the door to go to the wedding last night, one of your children asked you when you would be returning home. You answered, ‘Go to sleep before we come home. But don’t worry, someone will be home by midnight.' When I saw that the wedding was running late and it was getting close to midnight, I realized that you no longer had any intention of returning home by that time. I insisted on being driven home so I could be the ‘someone’ that would be home by midnight as you had told your children and you would therefore not be guilty of telling a lie.”
