Weekly Story: The Flame Is Burning Brightly

by Rabbi Sholom D. Avtzon

After serving in the Israeli Defense Force, may Hashem protect them, many soldiers decide to tour various parts of the world, and the figure in our story was one of them.

He grew up in a secular community in Naaveh Ilan in Eretz Yisroel, and after the completing his mandatory service, he felt he needed a break.  So after some thought, he decided to crash on his relatives in San Diego, California. He knew it was by the Pacific Ocean and he enjoyed water activities. So without even notifying them, one sunny day he showed up by their door.

After overcoming their initial shock, they invited him for dinner and throughout the meal asked him about the family, his tour of duty and other points of interest. They then asked him what are his plans and he responded, I want to hang around southern California for a while and I thought I might stay with you.

They responded, while it will be our pleasure to have you over for some meals, however, we are sorry to inform you that there are no extra rooms in our house. There is no way we can accommodate your need for a room to sleep in, even for a short period of time.

Realizing that although he brought some money with him, that was intended for his excursions and similar expenses, but he didn’t expect to pay for room and board. So after a while, they suggested, put on your uniform and go over to the Chabad center, maybe they have room to put you up. We know that some Jewish students of the University, board there.

So off he went to the Chabad House and to his delight and surprise, they responded you can stay as our guest. The only thing we ask is that as long as you stay, you must participate in the morning services and obviously put on Tefillin on the weekdays and not desecrate the Shabbos.

To him this was a small price to pay, they are not intruding into his life or making any outlandish demands on him, their only request was, just be respectful to your host. He won’t smoke a cigarette in the synagogue on the Sabbath, but he will continue do so, in the privacy of his room or when he was strolling the streets.

This arrangement continued for a few months, and during that time he befriended a young man who was a native Californian, who was also taking some time off. One Sunday they decided to cross the border and visit the Mexican town of Tijuana. They remained there the entire week and on Friday morning they decided it is time to return.

However, to his shock, at the border he was refused reentry into the United States. His visa was for a one time visit, and by leaving the States, the visa was no longer valid. He pleaded with the immigration guard, that he had another few months on his visa, but to no avail.

He then said, the reason I decided to return today, is because I keep the Sabbath, and there is no way to keep the Sabbath in Tijuana. I cannot stay in Mexico, I must get back to the place I was staying. The border guard dismissed his words and pleas and directed him to a room, to await his fate.

As soon as the guard left the room, another agent came over to him and said, I too am Jewish. And while I am not Sabbath observant, I respect A Jew that is. So although, I will be definitely reprimanded and punished for helping you, with the possibility that I may be dismissed from my job, I am going to leave through the back door and leave the door slightly ajar. And you do what you have to.

True to his words, the door was left ajar and this young man sprinted across the border.

That night in the privacy of his room in the Chabad center, he stretched out his hand to get a cigarette from the table. But then his conscience stopped him; the border agent put his livelihood in jeopardy, in order that you can maintain the sanctity of the Sabbath and now you are going to desecrate it and smoke?! Is that how low you will stoop. You will cause a person to lose everything he has, so you can have this little enjoyment and relaxation? Shame on you!

With these thoughts lingering in his mind, throughout the next twenty four hours, he survived that Sabbath without a cigarette, and then decided to honor his benefactor by truly becoming a shomer Shabbos.

Upon his return to Eretz Yisroel, the family noticed that he had some kind of transformation and they realized that not only was he now observing the Shabbos, but he was becoming completely observant. Today, he is the husband and father of a beautiful observant family.

Yes, the flame of one Shabbos continues to burn for the remainder of his life, l’arichas yomim v’shonim tovim.

This story was related by Rabbi Mendel Groner of Kiryat Gat, who knows the individual personally.

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and author of numerous books. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com.

His newest book, a 560 page biography on the Rebbe Maharash is ready for print, and he needs assistance in publishing it. Anyone interested in partially sponsoring it, please contact him.