When I was in second grade I wrote a letter to the President of the United States. I had something of crucial importance to discuss with him, and I made it clear that it was an emergency. He never answered.
So I tried the vice president, but he didn't answer either. I was deeply offended. I could not understand why they weren't answering me. After all, when I wrote to my teacher during the summer of first grade she wrote back, and nobody was busier than she was.
I decided to write again. I checked the address in the yellow phone book, and painstakingly wrote it out in large purple letters on my favorite stationery. I then wrote SOS underneath, and proceeded to write my letter on matching stationery paper.
I asked him if he could please, please come down to our school in three more weeks. I wanted to "show 'n tell" him to the class.
I began the letter with a compliment on the great job he was doing as president. (All presidents love compliments.) I then went straight to the point. I asked him if he could please, please come down to our school in three more weeks on Tuesday afternoon. I wanted to "show 'n tell" him to the class. It would be my turn then. And this was an emergency, because no one had ever brought the president to our classroom yet. He could give a small speech, not like the long ones he always does, and then I would give out doughnuts and he could leave. If he absolutely could not make it, I would be willing take the vice president instead.
But a few days passed and there was no answer in the mail. I figured there must be something wrong with the mailbox, and that my letter never got transferred to the one in the White House.
I asked my mother if there was a better way to send important letters, and she told me, yes, there was Federal Express. But when I asked her to send my letter that way, she stubbornly refused and nothing I said could convince her otherwise.
Finally, I decided on my last option. I would to try another mailbox. Maybe a different one would work better.
Two days before show 'n tell, I received an envelope from the president. Inside was a portrait size picture of him, and under the picture he had signed his name.
I was furious. What was I expected to do with a portrait size picture of the president's ugly face?
I wrote him a letter raging that when I would grow up I was never gonna vote for him, and, here -- he could have his picture back.
That was the last time I ever wrote a letter to the president.
In fact, that was the last time I wrote any letter at all until the end of the year, when one evening I had an explosive argument with my brother.
I loved chewing pens. When I was doing homework, writing or thinking, I was chewing off the top part of a pen. My mother always told me to stop -- I was deforming all the pens in the house. My father told me that I was ruining my teeth, and my brother teased the life out of me.
One day he walked into my room while I was peacefully chewing on a pen. He grabbed it out of my mouth, and gleefully informed me that I was not allowed to chew on pens any longer. They weren't kosher.
I told him to hand me back the pen immediately.
But he held the pen over his head gloatingly, danced around my room in circles, and said that he couldn't give it back to me. I was chewing something treif.
I argued that the pen was definitely kosher because I had bought it in a Jewish grocery store. But he said it made no difference -- there was no supervision symbol, no hechsher on it.
I said that it didn't matter, because I wasn't really eating it. But he held up the pen close to his eyes, and said, actually, I sure was.
So we argued and yelled until he finally said that I could ask the biggest rabbi in the world, and he would tell me that pens weren't kosher.
I was gonna ask the biggest rabbi in the world if pens were kosher.
I said fine. I was gonna ask the biggest rabbi in the world. My brother looked at me, and burst out laughing. He laughed and laughed and finally said that he would even give me the address of the biggest rabbi in the world, and I could send him my silly question and see that he was right.
He pulled out a "Torah card" from his pocket and showed it to me. It was a picture of Reb Dovid, one of the biggest rabbis in the city. This man is busy day and night assisting people's lives and dealing with important community issues. I carefully wrote down the address on my homework pad, and kicked my brother out of my room. He was still laughing and yelled through the door that Reb Dovid got millions of letters from people, and that I was dreaming. He would never answer my stupid letter.
But I wanted to know if a pen was trief, and did it really need a hechsher to put it in my mouth? I also wanted to know how much I was allowed to hate my brother, and was it a smaller or bigger sin than eating non-kosher?
So I wrote the letter and sent it that evening before I went to bed.
I went to school, failed a math test, argued with my brother and received a letter at the end of the week. Reb Dovid wrote back. It was a long letter. He wrote that he was delighted with my letter, and I should continue to write to him whenever I have a question. He said that my questions were good ones, and he had spent a lot of time thinking and looking through many holy books before he was able to answer. He could tell I was an intelligent person, and that I liked to think, and then he answered my questions.
Pens, he answered, are a lifeless object, so the concept of kosher is irrelevant. But even if it wasn't a problem according to Jewish law, I should try to stop chewing pens was because it was an annoying habit that ruined the pens, and it probably bothered whoever else wanted to use it.
He once had a friend who also loved chewing pens, and then one day he chewed right through the ink tube and had a black mouth for a week.
After that his friend always put a little mustard on top of the pen he was using, until he got used to chewing his fingernails instead of the pen…
He also said that it was okay to hate my brother. My brother probably hated me sometimes, too, but we would become friends when we grew up. For now we only annoyed each other, and it wasn't really hating. He hated his sister, too, when he was younger. She would boss him around, and he never listened. Today, they are best friends.
I put the letter in a separate folder, and sat down to write another one. And another, and another, and another...
Was I allowed to slap my teacher, if it was only in a dream?
Could you push off Shabbat to Sunday if it was an emergency? Was I allowed to tell my friend's secret only to my mother and my teacher and my other three friends? Could I ask God for a new dress while davening?
Was I allowed to slap my teacher, if it was only in a dream? Could I “borrow” a snack from my friend if she didn't know?
Almost every week I wrote a letter, and almost every week Reb Dovid wrote back. He was always happy to receive my letters. Sometimes he wrote that my questions became difficult for him, and he had to consult with another rabbi. Did I mind? And could he read the last letter to his wife? She would enjoy it so much.
How was my annoying brother? Did I do well on the Chumash test? I should read the book, “Goodbye, Friend” -- an intelligent person would enjoy it.
What was I doing in the summer? Of, course, you should write to me then. Here is my address in the mountains…
My daughter didn't like day camp either, but in another few years you will start going to sleepover camp. Now, that is fun… Yes, you can definitely tell your mother that you don't like the new school shoes, it all depends on how you say it, and I'm so happy that you made friends with the new girl in your class. I see that you have a good teacher this year, your questions are on a high level.
It was Purim time, fourth grade, when I received the last letter. It was his longest one.
He would no longer be able to answer my questions. He had to go away soon…
He would no longer be able to answer my questions. He had to go away soon… But here was the address of his good friend who knows all about Torah, and can write letters even better than he had. His friend loves letters like mine, and I should write to him whenever I felt like it. He had enjoyed my thoughts so much, and he knows that I would grow up to be a great person.
You are a smart girl, he wrote, and always must remember that what makes you so smart is that you ask questions.
Reb Dovid died two days after I received the letter. They told us about it in school, and we heard many stories about him. Everyone went to his funeral, and they wrote all about him in the weekly newspapers.
They published an article he had written before he passed away but I couldn't really understand it. His letters were much simpler.
I showed the letters only to my parents, and then hid them all in the back of my drawer. Once after he died, I wrote him a letter, but no one knew the address of Paradise. Instead, I wrote to his wife and asked if she knew how long Reb Dovid was planning on staying in heaven, and did he ever come to her in a dream, and when he did could she ask for the address? I wanted to write to him.
She wrote back that Reb Dovid would be in heaven until Moshiach came, and, no, he didn't come to her in a dream, and no, heaven has no address.
Then how, I wondered, did anyone know where to go when they died? And where was Moshiach all this time anyway? In heaven, or hiding somewhere on earth? At first I thought of waiting for Moshiach to write my next letter, but when a few days passed and he hadn't arrived, I decided he was taking too long. Until then, I would write to the other rabbi that Reb Dovid had told me about.
Original article copyright (c) Hamodia.
(56) Karla, April 8, 2018 10:34 PM
Thank you!
I love the content of your articles, and I love the way you present them! I taught high school English for 30 years, and I know good writing; you've got it!
(55) Pessy, March 3, 2011 4:01 AM
Thank you!
amazingly beautiful and hysterical
(54) Avigayil, March 15, 2009 11:40 AM
wow!
beautiful and amazing story!
(53) MS, February 14, 2008 4:41 AM
Moved me to tears
This is a beautiful story and I cried not for the loss of the Rov who is anonymous, but for the loss of the kind of Rabbi who took time to respond and understood exactly where the writer was coming from.
(52) Joey, February 13, 2008 11:33 AM
Not only touching, this is also one of the funniest stories ever; you had me laughing the whole way through. Thank you and God bless!
(51) Ben Pianko, February 12, 2008 8:24 AM
This is truly a beutiful story. It made my Rabbi cry. This remarkable story highlights why our Gedolim, and for that atter the Jewish people, are so special.
(50) Elisheva, February 11, 2008 10:26 PM
Beautiful
It seems like such a simple article. But it has moved me to tears. I am always amazed by the attention to detail displayed by our gedolim. The famous ones and the not so famous ones.
(49) kobi, February 10, 2008 11:02 PM
excellent!!
thank you so much for this piece. it shows the beauty of the jewish people. what was the full name of the rav? this is a very meaningful piece on many levels.
(48) Anonymous, February 10, 2008 8:35 PM
A good lesson
This is such a special story, thank you for sharing it. And Reb Dovid is indeed a special man.
(47) Anonymous, February 10, 2008 4:33 PM
Well-written and insightful
I loved this article.
Every girl in our second-grade class wrote a letter to the president, and he actually wrote back to me.
I wish I'd written to Reb Dovid.
(46) Anonymous, February 10, 2008 1:35 PM
Nice article
The writer must have been a precocious child to have the chutzpah to write to a famous person.
I have written to some, including a few politicians as an adult. I've gotten a few response but never an answer if I was asking a favour.
My most precious letter was from Hillary Clinton when she was first lady.
I had emphasised with her over a stressful situation and she wrote back to me thanking me for it. Not a generic response either.
She signed it too.
I have adored her ever since as I believe she would care for the little people.
(45) Lea Trager, February 10, 2008 12:02 PM
I received a Tribute From the Governer of Michigan When I Retired!!!!!!!!!!
I worked on the Michigan Governor's Campaign 8 years ago and met her driver who is now one of her assists. I called him on Sunday and said I was upset that she had not stated she was for a Women's Rights, and how could I work on her campaign. Well, the next day in the Detroit Free Press in the Editoral Column, the Governor stated she was a champion of women's rights!!!!!!!!!! I still call Jerome when I am upset!! I have just retired from the State of Michigan as an advocate for abuse and neglected children, and received a wonderful tribute from the Governor!!!
So it is our responsibility, especially as Jews, to speak out and voice our opinion.
(44) colin plen, February 10, 2008 11:00 AM
very special
I am a 65 year child and I loved this story so much that I am going to print it out and how it to my children and my grandchildren.
Thank you
(43) Ester, February 10, 2008 10:44 AM
Beautiful, Adorable, Inspiring... BUT
This child grew up thinking that she is the center of the universe. Her reaction to the President who took the time to send her a portrait she could have well used as a substitute was chutzpahdik and ungrateful. I wonder what she does when her husband happens to be too busy (providing her with a livelihood) to take her shopping and "only" gives her the money to go by herself. Does she throw it back in his face?
Even if this story is fiction, it's a bad example. Most rabbis - most people - are too busy to reply to weekly letters from little girls. Children should learn how the real world works, not think that everyone will - or has to - be there for them all the time. Even parents have to learn to say "not now" when kids ask questions in inappropiate times. Look where the idolization of youth has taken our "me-generation"!
(42) sarah shapiro, February 10, 2008 10:32 AM
WONDERFUL
.
(41) david, February 10, 2008 8:59 AM
beautiful
lovely story
thank you
(40) hattie, September 23, 2004 12:00 AM
inspired
that is such a sweet letter..for i am also only a child..i am 13 years old..
this story has inspired me to write to people who i admire and also to not be embarresed to ask questions..
thank you+
(39) Anonymous, January 23, 2003 12:00 AM
Heartwarming
This is a beautiful story- very sweet and touching. The death of this great person is heartbreaking, but I'm sure he has earned a great place in Gan Eden.
(38) Helen, November 18, 2002 12:00 AM
Precious
A child is the most precious gift from
God and this child really thought things
through and was very sincere. I really enjoyed the article.
(37) orah, November 5, 2002 12:00 AM
beautiful
i loved this article,i always think the greater the person the humble he is.
rev DOVIDz'l was indeed a true tzadik, full of ahavas isroel& a great torah personality.
the girl was as sweet as honey.
may we'll be zoche to hear about more people like them.
(36) Anonymous, November 5, 2002 12:00 AM
Reb Dovid z"l is surely proud...
Reb Dovid z"l is surely proud...
may you continue the tradition, ad me'ah v'esrim.
(35) Sara, November 4, 2002 12:00 AM
Beautiful article
Thank you so much for this article. I was having a hectic and not altogether productive week, your article made me smile.
(34) Zipporah, November 3, 2002 12:00 AM
It's about a girl that has close contact with a great Rabbi.
It is a very touching article. I think it was very nice of Reb Dovid.
(33) Michele H., November 1, 2002 12:00 AM
delightful
This article was delightful! I hope your toddler is as inquistive as you are.
(32) Anonymous, October 31, 2002 12:00 AM
Beautiful article.
This was a beautiful article.
(31) Shoshi, October 31, 2002 12:00 AM
that was so nice!
This article really made my day - it's beautifully written and really helps emphasize the idea that Gedolim, great sages, note not only the things most people consider big, rather, they understand the greatness of things most others view as small. My only question--- which Reb Dovid was this?
(30) Susan Petre, October 31, 2002 12:00 AM
Very moving
I'm so glad you had this experience.
(29) Anonymous, October 31, 2002 12:00 AM
Touching..beautiful
We all could use a Reb Dovid als... at any age. Thank you
(28) Anonymous, October 30, 2002 12:00 AM
A very sweet tale of childhood. Reminded me of the reason I attempt to smile at children even when tired and distracted. They remember.
(27) H Hoffer, October 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Absolutely Beautiful
I loved this article it brought tears to my eyes. I want to go home and Hug my daughter.
(26) Anonymous, October 30, 2002 12:00 AM
That was incredibally beautiful!
Someimes its the simplest things in life that make life worth living for. That was one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. The tears came freely at the end.
(25) Al and Devora Farrell, October 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Deeply moving
This is certainly among the most beautiful stories we have read anywhere. We emailed it to several friends. The purity and simplicity of a child's viewpoint brings home the beauty of Torah and the life-long impact that a loving spiritual leader, like Reb Dovid, can have. Thanks for publishing this wonderful story.
(24) frances simon, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Lovely/ brought me many smiles
I tis a wonderful journey into a child's world and brings back many memories
(23) Yoka Bazilewich, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Great story
It was a delight to read your story.
I teach the preschool class and kindergarten in shul and I hear the greatest questions from the children. They are all a delight to teach.
Thanks for the lovely read.
Yoka Bazilewich
(22) Sara Rigler, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Beautiful story, beautifully written
I would love to see more stories by this author. This one was profound and impactful.
(21) shari, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
This made me cry. Being real is beautiful
thank you for bringing me back down to earth, with this article.
(20) Anonymous, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Reminds me of when I was ten and eleven, and I would ask the rabbi a question every Friday night as he was closing up teh shul for the night... I looked forward to that more than anything else.
(19) Carole Olson, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
How wonderful are the children!
Reading this article reminded me of how innocent and pure children are. If only ALL adults could have those same qualities. More stories from this author Please!
(18) Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter, October 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Inspiring!
The timeless message of this story is truly inspiring! It will make an everlasting impact! (I relate to it personally because I actually accompanied a young boy to his Solomon Shechter School to be his Kindergarten show and tell item.)
I would be most grateful to know who "Reb Dovid" in the writers story is. . . please?
Thanks so much!
Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter
(17) Shoshana SAJET, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Thank you for sharing this story.
I've read this story in HAMODIA, and I was really moved.
And when I read this again right now, in Aish.com's newsletter, I thought the same thing.
May Rabbi Dovid (if that's his real name) be blessed, as well as his whole family, for the patience he took to answer to a little girl's questions.
Adults often do forget how crucial some questions seem to be for some children.
And the way we answer to children has a real effect on how they will grow up, which adults they will become, and how they will eventually answer to children later, themselves.
Childen are the world's future.
And Jewish children even more, because we Jews have to be a living example of well-behavior and conduct.
Thank you for sharing this story.
(16) Anonymous, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Adorable
Very sweet column.
(15) yaffa, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Ahavat, Chesed, and Chein, A beautiful legacy
I was moved to tears by the love and tenderness of this Rov David. I too, would like to know who he was, a true Abba and a true leader, certainly much more devoted and desirous to respond in compassion to his own than "our" president was...and Thank God for that and all of the Rav Dovids in the world.
(14) kathy parks, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Thank you for this article that spoke to me volumnes on humility & discernment, careing & dedication. May we all be more like this Rabbi...by taking the time for someone else, & to be more like this little person, by searching for truth & wisdom. Again thank you........kathy
(13) Severino Enopena, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Questions little children ask you cannot take for granted
Thank you very much for underlining our "adult" presumptions about little children's sometimes annoying barrage of questions. Indeed, their lives are defined by the efforts we invest into forming them day after day.
(12) Anonymous, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
I loved it. Which Reb Dovid was this?
(11) Anonymous, October 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Thank you
What a beautiful article. Thank you so much.
(10) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
touching
I don't know if this is a true story or not (is it?), but I found tears running down my cheeks at the thought of that sincere, innocent child and that loving, wise rav. I think that so many of us strive to regain the sincerity, honesty and simplicity which we associate with children. Reading this story helped reconnect me with that. Though it is not necessary, I would really appreciate knowing if this story is true, and, if so, who Reb Dovid was. I think it is a great zchus for him and would be something I'd like to share with my own kids.
(9) Bob Burg, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
What An Awesome Story!
That was an awesome story. My eyes began to well up at the kindness of that great Rav. His patience with the sweet, inquisitive, wonderful little girl reminds me of my two favorite posukim; Leviticus 19:18 ("Love your neighbor as yourself") and Micah 6:8 ("Do justly,love kindness/mercy, and walk humbly with G-d"). Reb Dovid embodied both.
One part that struck me the most is when the "little girl" mentioned that she tried to read an article that he had published, but that his letters were so much simpler. In other words, he could relate to everyone on "their" level.
This is the story of a great Tzaddik, written by a now wonderful grownup.
Thank you so much for sharing. I know this will remain one of my favorite stories for all time.
(8) Jenny Rains, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
Beautiful!
What a beautiful story! How I wish more people would understand the importance of taking time for children.
He indeed was a great Tzaddik.
(7) Amuela, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
I like this story
I wish I had a Rabbi to write to to ask all the questions I have.
(6) Marisa Mandrea, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
Beautiful Story
A really beautiful story.
(5) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
an inspiration
I wish I had had a Reb Dovid in my life. I try very hard to be this way with the children who come into my life, but it's not always easy to maintain that level of patience and be that positive.
What an inspiration to make me work even harder! And if this is a true story, what a lucky little girl.
(4) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
beautiful story
Wow - that's an absolutely fantastic story - I would also love to know if it were true... Thanks for posting such a provoking aticle!
(3) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
beautiful, Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing your very moving story. I, too, had tears in my eyes. In contrast to the outwardly powerful politicians who ignored the little girl, the tzadik was able to see how he could influence and guide her. He put himself in her shoes and saw how important her questions were to her. He took her seriously, showed her respect, and guided her with his wisdom. I love how Reb Dovid always complimented the little girl on her intelligence and encouraged her questions. So so beautiful.
(2) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
it taught me the importance of really caring about other people - and thats what all Jews should be like
i wish i could be like the rabbi, who takes everyone and all their comments and questions seriously. and even more than that, makes them feel good about themselves and their feelings. this is a beautiful thing . i really learned a lot from it.
(1) Anonymous, October 27, 2002 12:00 AM
very beautiful story
The story really touched me. It was written in such a way that was humorous, yet inspiring. It made me laugh, but it also made me cry.