The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Friday the 7th of Av 5781 and July 16, 2021
Peace Maker
The pandemic has left many families and individuals scarred.
I am not only referring to the physical toll; I am also referring to the toll it took on long-standing friendships.
The Goodmans and Goldbergs (names changed) were not only close neighbors; they were very close friends.
Both families had children of similar ages, and both families moved into their homes twenty-five years ago.
The husbands, Beryl and Shmuel, have been learning together on Shabbos afternoon for a quarter of a century.
The children played together in the backyard, the fathers learned together on Shabbos; however, the heart and soul of the friendship was the bond between Sorala Goodman and Chani Goldberg.
They were closer than sisters. They shared each other's simchos and gave each other Chizuk when needed.
They were inseparable; until they separated.
Covid killed people and sometimes succeeded in destroying friendships.
The Goodmans took a very cautious attitude toward Covid. Sorala made sure everyone was masked and insisted on maintaining social distancing.
Chani was not as strict as her best friend. Her doctor told her that if the children play outside, the chance of infection is very minimal.
Chani felt there was nothing wrong with the children from both families playing together.
When Sorala noticed her children playing with the Goldberg kids, she ran outside and ordered her children in the house while delivering a lecture to all on the importance of social distancing.
Chani felt hurt. She felt as if Sorala was intimating that she was less concerned about health than Sorala was. Sorala was also hurting. She felt Chani thought she was too rigid and a fanatical follower of Fauci.
Unfortunately, as the pandemic progressed, so grew the rift between the two women.
When the pandemic eased, the relationship between Chani and Sorala seemed irreparable.
The summer arrived, and the kids were back to playing together in the backyard, Beryl and Shmuel were back to their Mishna Berura learning, and everything seemed exactly as it was in pre-pandemic America. However, it wasn't.
Both women were convinced that her former best friend looks at her as an uncaring mother.
When Chani had a new grandson, she never even bothered to call Sorala.
Their mutual friend Malki saw the pain on each one's face. She felt the yearning to be reunited that each woman wanted, yet each could not make the first move.
Malki arrived at Chani's house on Erev Shabbos to help set up the Shalom Zachor.
She overheard Chani saying to her husband, "If Sorala would just ask Mechilla, I could get over this whole thing." When her husband asked why couldn't she ask Mechilla, she remained silent.
Malki joined Chani in the kitchen to cut cake. Suddenly, Malki looked at her phone and said to Chani, "You are not going to believe this; however, I just received a text from Sorala. She writes that she is too embarrassed to come over now; however, she asks for your Mechilla and wishes you Mazel Tov."
Chani quickly grabbed her phone and called Sorala as tears went down her cheeks, "Sorala, I'm sorry! But, please, you must come over now, and we must put this whole thing behind us."
In a flash, Sorala was in the kitchen with Chani, and it was as if the year of Covid never existed.
I was in the adjacent den going over some halachos on Bris Milah with the new father. I heard every word spoken.
As I got up to leave, I noticed Malki walking out the door.
"That's some mitzvah you did in there!"I said.
Malki looked perplexed.
"Please forward me Sorala's "text" I'd love to see it. Especially since you're the only person left in town whose phone does not support texting!"
Aharon HaKohen would have been proud of Malki.
“If Not Now, Then When?”- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Rabbi
Congregation Ahavas Israel
Passaic, NJ
