It defies translation. Straight. Honest. Authentic. True.
All of the above plus generations of prayers and living
examples. The simple ehrliche yid. No airs. No poses.
We have to absorb and transmit stories of the gadol
b'Yisroel, anonymously paying a neighbor's grocery or
dentist bill, footing expenses for another's wedding.
Clearing a path in the snow, heating up a wood furnace in the
predawn hours, cutting toilet paper moments before Yom Kipper
for a large yeshiva public. All the nitty-gritty of life's
daily moves on the q.t. No noise. No waves.
More still images. The sheine baalebos who repairs all
machines he's sold, gratis. A lifetime guarantee on all
merchandise. Free Service for forty years. Out of town / in
town / overseas.
The secretary who never uses the office phone for personal
use, won't even shmooze with fellow workers during working
hours. The employee who comes in when he's not feeling well
in order to get his work done, but works overtime, beyond the
call of duty, taking no extra pay for his extra hours,
because he feels that since he's ill, his work is under par.
He does not want the boss to take a loss.
Picture the founder of an educational network who handles
millions of dollars without taking any salary, prefers to
take out personal loans so the network can expand. The Rabbi
and Rebbetzin who drink rice water as a main dish in order to
save money to pay back loans which they took upon themselves
to pay for hatzola rescue work during World War
Two.
If you are on the lookout for these moments of eternity, you
will find them all around you. Beautiful cameos far from the
limelight in the quiet, private moments of truly great
people.
