Reuven needed someone to ask a real question. Was anyone gutsy enough?
The younger Lauer brother congratulated himself as Reuven Stagler left his home. See, troubleshooting paid off. Small payout to the yeshivah that would hire Brucker’s kid, one problem solved. Small investment in making sure the new rabbi would want the job, second problem solved.
Once the people voted the rav in, he would go show his brother the math and how he’d done it. He smiled at the thought. Maybe he would do a PowerPoint.
Heshy had billed it as a question-and-answer session to draw more people, but it started out as a regular speech. It wasn’t in the main shul, and there were light refreshments — some rugelach and pretzels on paper plates, no caterers or party planners needed, and no homemade beverages, thank you very much.
There was a nice crowd there, with more people filtering in as the speech continued, which made Reuven happy. The beginning hadn’t been so spectacular, he thought. Maybe Rabbi Klarberg was also nervous.
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