The Short Vort

Good Morning!

Today is Sunday 29 of Teves 5782 - January 2, 2022

Beef

I am writing to you from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois

I flew out at 6 A.M. and an hoping to catch a 12:45 PM flight back to Newark.

I was privileged to deliver a Shiur at the Chicago Center for Chesed.

On the flight in I was sitting next to a large muscular man. After introducing myself he said his name is Bill however, everyone calls him Beef.

I did not have to ask him how he acquired the moniker, it was obvious.

Beef works as a logger and was visiting family in New York.

He then looked at me and said, “It’s obvious you’re a man of G-d.”

We chatted for a while and then we both went back to our own stuff.

As we were about to deplane, I said to Beef, “That’s quite a responsibility you have making sure all the wood we use in our homes and schools is of proper quality to ensure everyone’s safety”.

He then looked at me and said, “Rabbi, you have a much more difficult job. You have to ensure people’s spiritual safety. Meaning you have to guarantee that they have positive and safe spiritual experiences. That is much more difficult than my responsibility.”

I looked at Beef and said, “You have no idea how timely your message is for me today!”

“If not now, then when?” - Hillel

Ron Yitzchok Eisenman

Rabbi

Congregation Ahavas Israel

Passaic, NJ