The Chief

The building where I am staying has an elevator man. Baruch Hashem my motor skills are up to par and I can press the button myself, but if it gives a goy parnassa - who am I to argue, so I let him press.

On Shabbos I don't ride the elevator because I believe that it is forbidden. One is not allowed to benefit from a melacha that a goy does on his behalf even if he doesn't ask. There are those who ride the elevator and I am not aware of the heter to do so. So the elevator man knows that I take the stairs on Saturday and faithfully unlocks the stairwell door for me.

Today Paul was on duty. Paul is a short black man who loves to converse with me, usually about the weather ["Really nice out there today"] or about Israel ["Is there, like, gunshots wherever you go"]. He is a really expressive person. Today as he was unlocking the door, he gave me the quizzical look he has so often and asked [as if he'd been pondering this question for a while] "Hey, Ally, are you a Rabbi?"

I smiled and nodded.

He was SOOOO happy. He cried out "YEAHHHHHH!! You're the CHIEFFFFFFF!"

I can't help but admit that I enjoyed that interaction.

Never been called "The Chief" before. Just can't let it get to my head.....:-)