The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Thursday the 2nd of Adar Aleph 5782 and February 3, 2022
Rabbi Levi- Our Hero!
Over thirty years have passed since Rabbi Ephraim Levi began teaching Pre-1A at the Yeshiva K’tana of Passaic.
When he arrived, he had a class of twenty boys. It was the largest class in the entire school of sixty students.
For me, Rabbi Levi’s arrival was monumental.
My son Nesanel would be in his class.
As the year progressed, I noticed something unique and special about this man.
The care, love, dedication, and sincerity were obvious, and I knew my son was indeed privileged to be on the receiving end from this special Rebbe.
My son Nesanel thrived in Rabbi Lev’s class, and I was amazed at the bren that Nesanel exhibited for Torah and Yiddishkeit at such a young age.
One Friday, I entered the classroom to pick up Nesanel.
I then witnessed a sight that can only be described as M’ein Olam Habah.
Before Rabbi Levi began dismissal, he said, “Now it’s time for our Erev-Shabbos hug.”
Together with their beloved Rebbe, all the boys joined in a huddle and expressed their deep admiration and love for each other and their Rebbe.
The love, respect, and appreciation which the boys had for their devoted Rebbe and he for them found a wonderful mode of expression.
Every boy went away feeling and knowing that they were special in the heart of their amazing Rebbe.
Fast forward thirty years to 2022.
Class hugs have become passe. Yet, the love and dedication of a Rebbe for his Talmidim have not waned in the slightest.
Friday, January 7, a snowstorm blanketed Passaic.
Yeshiva would be closed.
My grandson Binyamin now occupies the desk in Rabbi Levi’s classroom, which his uncle occupied thirty years prior.
Binyamin and his siblings spent the morning with their Savta and Zaidy while their parents worked.
I ask Binyamin if he has the Parsha sheets from Rebbe; perhaps we can review them.
“Rebbe gives them out on Friday, and we don’t have yeshiva today.”
Banking on my close relationship with Rabbi Levi, I call him.
I put Binyamin on the phone as he says, “Rebbe, I don’t have my Parsha sheets.”
Rabbi Levi and I strategize if he can email the sheets to me.
That is a possibility. However, the sheets colored-in by my grandson are in the building and are inaccessible at present.
I tell the Rebbe, “At least we will have the parsha questions,” and provide him with my email address.
A few minutes later, there is a knock on the door.
As I open the door, I see a cold Rabbi Levi with the warmest heart in the world standing in front of me with a coat, gloves, boots, and scarf.
With his signature golden smile, which lights up the world, Rabbi Levi hands me the parsha sheets, complete with the original colored-in pictures of Moshe and Aharon by the deft hands of my grandson Binyamin.
Attached to the sheets is a bag of Shabbos treats to go along with the sweet Torah.
I look at Rabbi Levi in disbelief.
He smiles and says, “I know how much he wanted his sheets. I ran over to the yeshiva and retrieved the sheets from the classroom so he can have them for Shabbos.”
I look at Rabbi Levi and the Parsha sheets with the crayon-colored pictures of Moshe Rabbeinu.
A warm feeling envelops me on this frigid January day.
I grab Rabbi Levi, and we embrace in the greatest Erev-Shabbos hug in the history of hugs and humankind.
Norms may change, but the dedication and love of a Rebbe for his Talmidom has never waned and will last forever.
Binyamin had his Parsha sheets, and Klal Yisroel has Rabbi Levi, just one of the myriad of Rebbes who guarantee the radiant future of our people.
Too often, we allow one very bad apple to skew our thinking.
Rabbi Levi keeps us in check and balanced.
“If Not Now, Then When?”- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Rabbi
Congregation Ahavas Israel
Passaic, NJ
