Brand Names

Rav Tzvi, a Rosh Kollel from Yerushalayim, landed in Israel on Erev Pesach as a free man after a long trip in the US. Days without food and nights without sleep; lots of disgrace and embarrassment; the constant response from the cell-phones of potential donors  was .... "the person you are trying to reach is not available"; with little energy and some money to pay the 25 members of his kollel, he finally arrived.

He came to Kennedy with 2 suitcases. He didn't know that people who travel economy are only allowed one. It was amusing for him because one suitcase wasn't his. It was some slightly used clothing that he had been asked to deliver to a poor family that lives nearby. He paid the extra 70 dollar charge and thought "I'll also take part in this mitzva."

When he arrived home his children jumped on the suitcases. The children were so excited that the suitcase was filled with clothing that had brand names. He was quick to point out that the clothing wasn't for them.

"Why", asked his little girl, "do we not have such clothing?" 

"Even Shimshi", added one of the little ones, "has a Nautica shirt".

Shimshi is the cute red-headed kid who lives next door. His father is a poor kollel man, who nevertheless invests his money in brand name clothing for his children.

The Rosh Kollel, Rav Tzvi bit his lip and smiled. He bit his lip because he was disappointed that his kids care about brand names; he smiled because of the suitcase.

He had been asked to pass it on to Shimshi's father....... 

[Based on a story in Ba-kehilla Magazine]