The noted speaker and storyteller Rav Sholom Schwadron lost his father when he was just seven years old. For the rest of his life, Rav Sholom showed tremendous sensitivity to widows and orphans.
Rabbi Paysach Krohn’s family used to host Rav Sholom when he was in America, even after Rabbi Krohn’s father passed away. One Pesach when Rav Sholom was staying with the Krohns, the first night of Yom Tov was Motzei Shabbos, and they couldn’t start preparing for the Seder until very late.
Rabbi Krohn’s married sister and brother-in-law were there with their children. The kids were very involved in the Seder, singing and saying all their divrei Torah. Rabbi Krohn knew that Rav Sholom was makpid to eat the afikoman before chatzos. It was getting late, and he tried to rush his brother-in-law.
Rav Sholom didn’t speak English, but he understood what Rabbi Krohn was trying to do. He poked young Paysach in the ribs and said in Yiddish, “Don't rush!” When they got up to the seudah, Rabbi Krohn tried again. He motioned to his mother to try to move quickly. Even without saying anything, Rav Sholom poked him again. “I told you, don't rush!” They ended up eating the afikoman after chatzos.
After the Seder, Rabbi Krohn apologized for causing Rav Sholom to miss chatzos for the first time. “Your mother is a widow,” Rav Sholom said. “The whole year, she waits for her children and grandchildren to come from out of town, to hear them sing and give divrei Torah. Eating afikoman before chatzos is a d’rabbanan; causing pain to a widow is a d’oraysah. We have to know our priorities!”
Courtesy of Agudas Yisroel of America
