I don’t know anyone who can mine his own life experiences to extract lessons of general applicability in the same way as my friend Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman of Passaic. In one of his recent daily “Short Vorts” he told the story of Pinny a physically awkward socially ostracized young boy.
For his 12th birthday Pinny’s mother purchased a gooey seven-layer cake. The family could eat little of the cake and Pinny decided that he would bring it to school to share with his classmates. Pinny spent the entire walk to school in delicious contemplation of how his generosity would win the friendship he had always craved from his classmates.
Alas it did not work out that way. Pinny’s classmates took one look at the cake and accused Pinny of bringing them leftovers. Distraught by that reaction Pinny decided that he would at least take one piece to his principal. But the principal was not in his office.
When Pinny returned to the classroom he was horrified to find his classmates engaged in a food fight with his birthday cake. That did bring the principal. In response to the principal’s demand for an explanation the class said it was all Pinny’s fault as he had selfishly taken his cake to eat by himself. Pinny dissolved in tears unable to defend or explain himself.
Create a free account to keep reading.
