“If a Jew who knew no English was so careful about Shabbos, I know I can keep Shabbos, too”
I try to stay local on Fridays. But this week, I awoke at 4:30 to finish my Shabbos preparations and was on my way to Brooklyn by 6:30.
What precipitated my unconventional pre-dawn pilgrimage to Boro Park was the most fundamental Jewish concept: hakaras hatov. I was going to be menachem avel my dear friend, well-known askan Reb Shlomo Werdiger, who was sitting shivah for his mother a”h.
Eleven years ago, I was dealing with an issue and Reb Shlomo gave me the time and attention I needed to discuss it with him. He was there for me as a friend. Now I wanted to be there for him.
When I arrived in Boro Park, I was shocked to find parking directly across from the shivah house. I exited the car and saw a sign indicating that alternate-side parking restrictions would begin at 8:30. Now I realized why this perfect spot was available.
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