Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Gila Reuben sat on her kitchen stool, peeling vegetables for
the daily soup, contemplating the recent big news. Rabbi
Wasser, a former rebbe of her husband's, had asked Gila's
husband to join the staff of his newly-formed seminary for
high school girls. The seminary was finishing up its first
year on a successful note and Rabbi Wasser needed to increase
his staff. He had turned to Boruch Reuben, a responsible,
capable avreich, in his opinion. After discussing the
proposition, Boruch and Gila agreed that this was the
opportunity that Boruch had been waiting for.
Not many of Gila's neighbors or acquaintances were aware of
the new development in the Reubens' lives. Even when it did
get mentioned, Gila made little note of it. September First
found Boruch in his new position, but little changed in
Gila's life. She was a true akeres habbayis, most
comfortable in her own home surroundings.
Not surprisinglly, Gila's daughters took after their mother.
Good students, modest by nature, they tended to stay away
from some of their boisterous classmates. The girls usually
played together by themselves or with one or two girls of
similar personality. Gila didn't think much about it while
the girls were young. It seemed natural to her own quiet,
sensitive nature.
Problems had started as the girls got a bit older. The
differences between them and some of their peers became more
noticeable. Gila saw the hurt look on her daughters' faces as
they came in the house after a day of school. "Or rather, a
day of teasing," Gila thought to herself, angrily. "Don't
they teach anything about good middos?" Gila worked on
herself to judge favorably. She knew that she and her girls
did have more sensitive natures, but still....
*
Leah was in a panic. Her first daughter was in the eighth
grade. Thoughts about getting her daughter into seminary
loomed over her day and night. She tried to make contact with
the right people, make appointments with the school, and pray
with all her heart, yet somehow nothing seemed to move.
Having made aliya only a few years earlier, Leah's
connections were limited. It seemed outrageous to her, but if
nothing happened fast, her greatest nightmare might manifest
itself: her daughter might be stuck without a high school.
*
Word had gotten out. Gila Reuben's husband was connected to
Rabbi Wasser's new seminary. Gila's phone rang day and night.
To say that Gila was overwhelmed by all the attention was an
understatement. In their small Jerusalem neighborhood, where
everyone knew everyone else, it was bound to happen.
Desperate mothers were asking Gila to mention their daughters
to her husband. Gila was totally uncomfortable with the
situation and didn't quite know where to put herself. Always
shy, she suffered from all the attention. In addition to this
difficulty, there was another part of the picture that made
things especially unpleasant for her...
*
Leah had also heard that Gila's husband was involved with the
new seminary. Leah, the mother of a large household, didn't
have much time for socializing. Leah liked Gila with all her
quiet ways. With daughters in the same class, they'd often
meet at school events or occasionally on a park bench. They
would enjoy a relaxing shmooze before it was time to usher
their offsprings on to the dinner/bedtime routine. Even so,
Leah hesitated to bother Gila. Somehow, it seemed so
artificial, so fake to be calling Gila at this point. As time
went by and the situation didn't seem to be resolving itself,
Leah picked up the phone and took the plunge.
*
Riiiing..."Oh, the phone again," Gila thought tiredly.
Bracing herself from her racing emotions, Gila picked up the
receiver. She smiled after she heard Leah's voice. "Yes,
Leah," Gila said pleasantly, thinking she knew what it was
about. "What can I do for you?"
"Oh Gila," Leah started hesitantly, "I'm so sorry for
bothering you. I know you've been getting a lot of these
phone calls."
"It's okay, that's life," Gila said nonchalantly.
"Well, you know my Sari who's in class with your own Malkie,
well..." Leah didn't seem to know what to say. "We've been
having a very hard time getting her into a seminary. She is
our oldest daughter and since neither my husband or I grew up
here, our connections have been limited. I'm sorry for asking
this of you. I hope it doesn't come across as too pushy, but
do you think you could mention to your husband that we would
appreciate his help?" Leah finished nervously.
Gila sat quietly in thought for a moment or two, which made
Leah even more nervous.
"Gila, is everything OK?" Leah asked, unsure if she'd said
something wrong.
"No, not exactly, " Gila answered slowly. "I think I can tell
you this. Your girls were always nice to my girls. They'd
include them in their games and occasionally they'd do
homework together. But not all the girls have been so nice.
They'd tease my girls for being quiet or sensitive. Maybe
those girls didn't think my girls wore the right kind of
clothes. Do I know? I'd see the hurt looks on my girls' faces
when they came home from school. When I tried to ask
questions, the girls would just shrug it off. Slowly, over
time, in a small neighborhood like ours, I got to know who
were the culprits. Sometimes I witnessed things with my own
eyes." Gila said sadly. Leah listened quietly not making a
comment.
"Don't worry, Leah" Gila brightened, "I'll be happy to
mention a lovely girl like your Sari to my husband." Gila
hesitated and then she added, "B'ezras Hashem, all of
Jerusalem's girls should find a place to grow to be true
B'nos Yisroel."
