Baila Feinberg and Ruchy Braun decided that they wanted a
`different' Shabbos experience. The two friends had been
studying in seminary in Eretz Yisroel for two years and had
exhausted their respective supply of relatives.
"I've got a terrific idea," Ruchy exclaimed suddenly. "Let's
go to the Old City and get set up with a family. I heard
that there's an organization that places people for meals in
the Jewish Quarter and in Meah Shearim." Intrigued, Baila
agreed and the two friends made up to try it that coming
week.
Friday night at the Kosel, the air humming with sound.
Heartfelt prayers, bitter tears, snatches of childish
laughter, an infant crying. The large plaza near the Kosel
was teeming with tourists, strolling in the warm summer
night, gawking at the chassidim in their Shabbos
shtreimlach.
A large group of people had formed at the back of the plaza
where a short man with wide smile greeted them. Comprised
mostly of American college students, there were also a few
Israelis among the crowd. Ruchy and Baila awkwardly sidled
over to the group, feeling out of place as the only two
obviously religious girls.
"Um, I hope it's okay, but my friend and I wanted to get set
up with a family for the meal tonight," Baila said shyly to
the man in charge.
"No problem. Just wait till the end, after I've placed
everyone else. If I've still got a family left, I'll be
happy to help you out." The man turned his attention back to
the group. Swiftly he paired them up, shouting out names
from a wad of index cards he clutched in his hand.
"The two of you who are going to the Weiss family, please
stand over here. The Kaufmans will take three. Is there a
group of three? Does anyone speak Hebrew? There's a
wonderful Israeli family that is happy to have guests." In a
short time, the crowd had thinned to a handful. Baila and
Ruchy watched the scene in rapt amazement. Young Jews, who
appeared completely irreligious, were eagerly marching off
to Meah Shearim to experience a Shabbos meal, probably their
first. Girls, dressed in jeans and tee shirts, were
cheerfully accepting shawls and scarves to drape around
their shoulders and donning makeshift skirts to cover their
pants.
"Okay, girls. I haven't forgotten about you," the short man
said reassuringly, nodding in their direction. He scanned
his index cards. "Perfect. I've got just the family for you.
Their name is Wolf. You'll have a great time." Carefully
committing the address to memory, the two girls began their
twenty minute walk to their hosts.
"Good Shabbos. Welcome," boomed Rabbi Wolf, a large man with
intelligent brown eyes and a full, reddish beard. "Yosef
sent you?" He seemed puzzled by their obviously chareidi
appearance, yet ushered them graciously into his home. A
young woman appeared carrying a chubby baby.
"You're from the Wall?" she asked uncertainly. Grinning
sheepishly, the girls explained the impulse that had
motivated them to seek out an interesting Shabbos
experience. With a hearty laugh, Rabbi Wolf motioned them to
sit at the dining room table. The girls relaxed and looked
around the room. Pictures of gedolim adorned the
otherwise bare walls. The bookshelves were sagging under the
weight of the heavy volumes piled on them. The furniture was
sparse and cheap looking, yet the girls sensed a feeling of
comfort and warmth in the air that had little to do with the
furnishings.
"Ah, Yaakov, sit down. Our guests from the Kosel have
arrived," Rabbi Wolf announced genially, as the yeshiva
bochur took his place next to his host. The men launched
into a spirited Shalom Aleichem while Mrs. Wolf
dandled the baby on her lap, carefully removing any
breakables from his exploring fingers.
"We don't use running water or electricity on Shabbos," Mrs.
Wolf explained, as the two girls followed her into the
kitchen, eager to help serve. An enormous barrel of water
stood in the corner, dwarfing the already tiny kitchen. The
girls were impressed with how simple she made it sound. It
certainly couldn't have been an easy task to dip into a
wooden barrel for every cup of water needed. Chatting
together amaibly, the girls felt an instant bond of
friendship with this gentle, soft spoken woman. The meal
passed quickly and soon it was time for Ruchy and Baila to
start their walk home. Mrs. Wolf thanked them profusely for
all of their help and they said their goodbyes to the jovial
Rabbi Wolf.
"Good Shabbos, girls, You're welcome back any time," he said
kindly.
*
"Zelig, I'd like to speak to you for a few moments,"
requested Rabbi Klein, the Rosh Yeshiva. When the two were
seated comfortably in the office, Rabbi Klein removed his
heavy horn-rimmed glasses and peered intently at Zelig.
"You're twenty-two now, aren't you?" the Rosh Yeshiva probed
gently. "You've been with us here in the yeshiva for almost
five years, is that right?" Zelig Keller stammered an
affirmative reply, wondering where this questioning was
leading. He didn't have long to wait before his curiosity
was satisfied.
"A shidduch has been suggested for you, Zelig. A
young lady who has been learning in seminary here in
Yerusholayim for two years. Her name is Rochel Braun." Rabbi
Klein continued speaking for a few more minutes, but Zelig
was in a daze. Was he ready for marriage? His Rosh Yeshiva
certainly seemed to think so, because he was already on the
phone to an old student of his who had proposed the
match.
"Hello, Reb Chaim. Yes, I've just spoken to him. He's
interested in meeting Rochel. How about Tuesday evening at
8:30?" Rabbi Klein smiled reassuringly at Zelig, a paternal
friendliness warming his face.
Zelig stumbled back to his dorm room, confused and more than
a little excited. He bumped into Yaakov Greenbaum, his
roommate, who was just leaving the room.
"Hi, Zelig. What's up? You look mighty pleased with yourself
this morning." Yaakov observed good naturedly. Zelig rapidly
confided his conversation with the Rosh Yeshiva while
Yaakov's eyes grew wider and wider.
"Are you sure he said Rochel Braun?" Yaakov asked
incredulously. Zelig nodded emphatically, sure at least of
some of his facts.
"You're not going to believe this, but that's one of the
girls who was at Chaim Wolf's house on Shabbos a few months
ago. You know how Chaim often has guests that are sent to
him by Reb Nosson from the Kosel. One Shabbos when I was
there, these two frum girls showed up. Don't you
remember, Zelig? I told you how impressed I was with how
refined, modest and helpful they were throughout the meal."
Zelig and Yaakov looked at each other in astonishment.
*
The Keller home was always full of a fascinating assortment
of guests from all walks of life. It was particularly on
Shabbos and Yom Tov that the house would hum with a joyous
buzz of sound emanating from the variety of guests that
Zelig would invite, many of them newcomers to Yiddishkeit
from "off the Wall."
"Zelig, can I ask you a question?" asked Todd, a Canadian
backpacker that Zelig had befriended. "Why is it that you
and your wife are so eager to have guests all the time?
Especially people like me who are ignorant of their Jewish
heritage!"
Zelig grinned broadly, hazel eyes twinkling. He leaned back
in his massive armchair, surveying the long dining room
table. His wife, Ruchy, and several of the other guests,
were serving the fish course. There was a hush in the room
as Zelig considered his answer.
"Ruchy and I owe a personal debt of gratitude to the people
that work in Kiruv at the Kosel, and also to the families
that host young men and women that are searching for
answers. Soon after we got married, we decided that we, too,
wanted to play our part in offering Shabbos hospitality to
these young people. After a few months, we got hooked! We've
enjoyed having so many different kinds of people pass
through our home and enrich our lives over the years."
"What kind of debt do you mean?" wondered Aliza, a frequent
guest at the Kellers. Zelig and Ruchy exchanged a meaningful
glance. Ruchy nodded almost imperceptibly. "Okay, you can
tell them," she agreed, smiling. Their curiosity piqued,
everyone waited expectantly as Zelig took a sip of water,
relishing his role as storyteller.
"It all began when Ruchy and her friend Baila decided that
they wanted to have an unusual Shabbos experience," said
Zelig dramatically. "They decided to get set up at the
Wall..."
