< 1 min read
Rabbi Silverstein was exasperated by the Kiddush club at his shul -- a few men who left his sermon in favor of a few shots of schnapps. So one Shabbat morning, Rabbi Silverstein decided he was going to confront the problem publicly from the pulpit.
"If I had all the Scotch in the world right now,” said the rabbi, “I'd take it and throw it into the river."
With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."
And then finally, he said, "And if I had all the vodka in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river."
Rabbi Silverstein then sat down, and motioned for the prayer service to continue.
At that moment, Harvey Blitztein, the self designated “president” of the Kiddush club stood up at the bimah and announced with a smile, "I will now lead the congregation in prayer, starting with Psalm number 63 ‘Shall We Gather at the River.’”