“Kinderlach,” Totty said, walking into the house. “We have an urgent mitzvah and I need your help!”
The Greenbaum children looked up in surprise. “Is everything okay?” Basya asked.
“Everything is wonderful!” Totty said. “I just met a poor couple who got married this week. They are baalei teshuvah who are new to the neighborhood and they don’t know anyone. So we are going to make them sheva brachos tonight. It’s a huge mitzvah and opportunity for us!”
The children looked at Totty without much enthusiasm.
Hours of Boring Speeches
“Sheva brachos?” Shimmy said. “Does that mean hours of boring speeches? Couldn’t we take the new couple go-karting instead?”
“Or we could take them on a trip to the air and space museum and show them all of the niflaos haborei in the science behind how planes and rockets work,” suggested Yitzy.
“I’d love to help,” Basya said. “But Malky invited me to come over and brainstorm for her new zerizus project. Maybe another time.”
“Wait, wait, hold on,” Totty said. “This is a huge mitzvah. Anshel Holtzbacher himself has offered to hire a caterer for the event so he can get a chelek in the mitzvah, even though he is away on a business trip.
“I need you three to help with a few things. Basya, I need you to dust the shelves and clean the windows. Shimmy and Yitzy, I want you to straighten up the dining room, sweep the floors, and take out the garbage.”
The Greenbaum children looked disappointed at the boring chores Totty assigned them. But still, they listened to Totty and did their part to get the house ready for the sheva brachos.
A few short hours later, the Greenbaum house had been completely transformed. Tables were set with beautiful tablecloths and the caterer served delicious mouthwatering food. The chosson and kallah arrived, looking overjoyed at how many people had come together to celebrate with them. And to top it all off, right before dessert, the Horki Rebbe himself walked in to deliver divrei brachah to the young couple!
“This was so special,” Basya said to her brothers as they cleaned off the tables.
“Well, at least the food was good,” Yitzy said. “But we had to do so much hard work.”
“Not to mention listening to the speeches,” added Shimmy.
“Shimmy, Yitzy,” Totty said, walking into the room.
“Yes, Totty?” both boys answered.
