Rabbi Eisenman
My
cell phone rang this morning.
“Big
deal”; after all, your cell rang this morning as well.
The
screen indicated a ‘917’ area code which meant the person was
from New York.
So
what? Don’t we all get calls from ‘917’?
True,
but this phone call was different from all others.
I
was unable to answer so I allowed the call to go to voice mail.
Later,
I listened to the message.
To
my shock it was a message from one of the most well-known Rabbis in
New York.
I
was filled with awe and pride; “Rabbi Famous” is calling little
old me.”
I
quickly called back; however, he did not answer and I left a message.
I
began to indulge in some self-pride as I wondered ‘how many people
does “Rabbi Famous” call’?
Yet,
after the initial swelling of my head, I suddenly thought, “Oy, if
““Rabbi Famous” is calling me it must be that some horrendous
scandal has occurred and he wants me to be involved!”
I
could see the sleepless nights heading my way… the endless phone
calls… the attempts at mediations…. The posturing and the
threats…. And worst of all, the time and the anxiety and the mental
anguish which takes months to recover from….
“Woe
is me!” I thought!” Why does “Rabbi Famous” have to call me?”
Suddenly,
the phone rang.
It
was “Rabbi Famous”!
My
heart was racing and my hands were clammy and cold.
I
was sure that “Rabbi Famous” would hear the thumping sound of my
heart.
Finally,
I answered.
“Shalom,
Is this Yitzchok Eisenman?”
“Yes,
it is.”
I
braced myself for his next sentence.
I
forced down the panic attack which was festering within me and I
repressed my anxiety.
I
focused my mind back to a time when a call was a pleasant experience
and was never the harbinger of angst.
Finally,
“Rabbi Famous” continued.
“Are
you the same Ron Yitzchok Eisenman who writes for Mishpacha
magazine?”
“Uh,
yes, it is”, I said haltingly.
Was
he going to berate me for something I wrote?
Perhaps
it was the article about the Mets and Gil Hodges.
I’ll
bet he was upset about that one; after all, which rabbi writes about
baseball!!
“I
just had to call you to tell you how much I enjoyed your article
about the Mets and especially how you and your brother were so awed
when you saw Gil Hodges and you screamed “Let’s Go Mets!”.
You
really captured the scene and brought me back to an idyllic part of
my life.
I
can still remember my father taking me to Idlewild Airport (now JFK)
to see the Brooklyn Dodgers arrive from out of town; when I saw Gil
Hodges I was in seventh heaven!
Whoever
did not grow up in Brooklyn cannot possibly appreciate how much
baseball meant to us!
I
just had to call you to thank you for the moving and meaningful trip
down memory lane and for the Simcha and the smile you brought me.”
I
hesitated and said, “Thank you”.
I
then paused and waited to hear the ‘real’ reason for the call.
Instead,
“Rabbi Famous” says, “Anyway, I just wanted to thank you. Keep
up the good work and be well.”
“Wait”
I almost shouted. “Are you telling me that the only reason you
called me was ‘just’
to say ‘thank you’ for the article?”
“Yes,
that’s all I called for. I imagine you are busy and I have to get
back to my Shiurim so be well and Kol
Tuv.”
I
was still shaking as I put the phone down; however, now it was no
longer from anxiety; rather, it was from the realization of just how
much, a simple, sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you’ can change your
entire day.
