Fair and Square

W ithin seconds of entering the Frankel residence Devorah Leah braced herself for action. “Hi! I’m here! Wow what a pretty dress you’re wearing Rina! Hey Yankidoodle!” she said giving the four-year-old a high five. “Come here I’ll wipe your nose.”

The smell of chicken soup simmering on the stove had become the symbol of Thursday afternoon for Devorah Leah since she’d begun chesed at the Frankel home two years ago. These visits gave Devorah Leah the same sense of satisfaction she’d had last Erev Pesach when vacuuming out her father’s car.

“Thanks Devorah Leah ” Mrs. Frankel said passing her the baby. “If you can just hold him for about five minutes while I finish making supper that would be the biggest help.”

Half an hour later Devorah Leah sat with the baby on her lap his thumb in mouth blanket tucked under his arm while three-year-old Rina tugged vigorously at her skirt begging her to come play with her dollhouse. To her left eight-year-old Rivka sat slouched over a pile of homework that had accumulated since the previous Thursday.