Zadie was so special that when he entered a room the whole room was filled with a peaceful feeling. He made everything special and that’s why everyone loved and respected him. He came for a visit one year a few days before Tisha b’Av. There was a knock at the door and then Zadie came in, it was as though the sun had suddenly come out from behind the clouds. That was Zadie’s special smile. His beard seemed a little whiter, he walked slower, but looking at him made you feel so good.
We were the luckiest, because Zadie was staying in our home. I didn’t want to go to camp that summer—I didn’t want to miss a minute of Zadie’s visit. He told the most wonderful stories and spoke of secrets in the Torah. How proud I was to walk down the street with him.
It was erev Tisha b’Av, the first time I had to fast all day. When we went to shul, and sat down on the floor while listening to Megillas Eichah (Book of Lamentations), it was so sad that I really felt like crying. But then, I started feeling hungry, and was so ashamed of myself. So when we came home I went to sleep right away.
I woke up in the middle of the night and lay in bed, listening to a strange sound. It was someone crying. I put on a robe and, trembling, walked down the hall. The crying was coming from Zadie’s room. I tiptoed down the hall, knocked on his door and went in. He was sitting on the floor holding a sefer (book) on his lap and the pages were all wet from the tears streaming from his eyes.
I ran over and hugged him.
“Zadie, Zadie, what’s the matter?”
Zadie wiped his eyes and sighed. He gently pulled me down to the floor next to him. Putting his hand under my chin, he looked into my eyes.
“Mein ainickle mien tzaddikel (my grandson, my little holy one), I’m so sorry I woke you. It’s Tisha b’Av, you know, and I’m crying because of the destruction of our Bais Hamikdash. (Holy Temple)”
“But Zadie, aren’t things better already? After all, you’ve seen to Israel and many others Jewish people have gone there to live.”
“Please try to understand. No matter how comfortable the Jewish people are, something is missing because Hashem is still angry with us for our sins. If Jewish people all over the world—and in Israel, too—would do teshuvah (Repentance), say prayers from their hearts and give tzedakah (Charity) and do chesed (kindness), then the true geulah (redemption) would come soon. Meanwhile, we are in galus (exile) wherever we live. And it’s such a long, bitter galus. Do you understand mien zissele ainickle (my sweet grandson)? Now go back to sleep, and I’ll also go to sleep now. And do me a favour, please don’t tell anybody I woke you up. All right? I’m sorry.”
The next day, it was not hard for me to fast. I kept thinking about Zadie’s prayers, and his talk with me and I tried to pray better, too.
Shabbos Nachamu (“Sabbath of comfort/ing) came very soon. It was a very special a happy Shabbos! Zadie sat next to Taty at the head of the table, singing zemiros (Shabbos songs) loudly, as happy as I’ve ever seen him. I couldn’t understand it! He must have seen my confusion, because after “bentching” (Grace after meal), he took me out to the back porch and we sat on the top step together.
“Zadie, tell me. First you’re so happy, then so sad, then so happy.”
“Listen to me carefully my beloved grandson. Every day I say Ani Ma’amin (The Thirteen Principles of Jewish Belief) which begins Ani ma’amin be-emunah shelemah (“I believe with complete faith”) and it gives me strength to be happy. I know in my heart that Mashiach (Messiah) will come any day, but can I help crying on Tisha b’Av when we remember the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash and all the Jewish suffering thousands of years? Can I help crying for our Father in Heaven to have pity on us?
“But today, on Shabbos Nachamu. We read in the Haftorah how Hashem promises us that soon, very soon, our sins will all be forgiven and the Shechinah (Hashem’s Presence) will come back to our Holy Land. We have to believe that the galus will end soon, very soon—if we first prepare ourselves for it.
“It’s so true, I believe it with my whole heart. But remember, you have to prepare for it.”
Zadie has not been here for many years, but I hope I will never forget what he said as long as I live.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)