By Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
Many years ago, our Yeshiva established an audio Torah tape library. I looked in the Yellow Pages and found a company that sold tape labels. A very knowledgeable representative took my call. Clearly Jewish, she had a Brooklyn accent, and spiced her words with some Yiddish expressions. I felt comfortable dealing with someone who I believed, knew about Jewish institutions. I said I would call her back and asked for her name. She answered proudly, “Esther.” “Last name?” I inquired. After a brief pause, I received an answer that surprised me. “Scatteregio.”
But, She Had a Jewish Son
“Scatteregio?” I repeated in amazement. Stepping where perhaps I should not have, I explained my perplexity. “Actually,” I offered, “I was expecting Cohen or Goldberg.” She paused, “You are right, I am Jewish and my first husband was Goldman.” Another pause. “But now I’m remarried, and it’s “Scatteregio.” She took a deep breath. “But I have a Jewish son, Rick, and he really wants to observe. In fact, he wants me to allow him to study in an Israeli Yeshiva.”
I knew that this was not destined to be a telephone call only about tape. For half an hour, I talked about the importance of Yeshiva, and how Rick could be her link to her past and connection with her future. I never knew what kind of impact my words made. I remember leaving my name (Mordechai) and talking about my namesake’s influence on an Esther of yesteryear. I ended the conversation with the words “Esther, es vet zain gut!” (Yiddish for it will be well!)
Took My Children to a Local Park
Ten years later, during the intermediate days of Passover I took my children to a local park. Many Jewish grandparents were there, watching the next generations slide and swing. An older woman wearing pants and smoking a cigarette was holding the hand of a young boy who was wearing a large kipah and had thick payot.
As one of my children offered to play with the little boy, I nodded hello and smiled. With tremendous pride, she began talking about her grandchildren. “Do you know my son Reuven? He was studying in a Far Rockaway yeshiva until now and just took a job in the city.”
“Wonderful,” I said, “but I don’t know your son.”
She told me about the struggles of making a living, and I had no choice but to listen and smile. Instinctively I responded, “Es vet zain gut!” Things will be fine.
Her eyes locked on me. She stared in disbelief.
“Mordechai?”
“Esther?”
Her Grandchildren Were Truly Her Nachas
We just shook our heads in disbelief, and to my amazement, she told me that Rick did go to Yeshiva, these were his children, and they were truly her nachas (pride and joy).
I never will know if my words helped turn Rick into Reuven, but I am sure that the words, “es vet zain gut” assuring someone that things will be all right, was a statement not easily forgotten. (Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky)
Reprinted from the Parashat Beshalah 5784 email of Rabbi David Bibi’s Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
