GUESS WHO?

Daniel moved into a new neighborhood and didn't know anyone. He asked Rabbi Steinberg to help set him up with different families for Shabbos meals, which Rabbi Steinberg did faithfully every week. Every Friday, Rabbi Steinberg would call Daniel and tell him which family he would be eating with.

One Friday, Rabbi Steinberg called as usual. Daniel didn't answer, so he left a message on Daniel's voice mail telling Daniel which families were expecting him.

After Shabbos, Rabbi Steinberg was told that Daniel never showed up at the families for any of the meals. Perhaps he had taken sick and couldn't notify his host? Perhaps it was a wrong number and someone else received the message?

The next time he met Daniel, the Rabbi apologized and said that he had left a message with Daniel's answering service. Daniel said, "I don't have an answering service!" They checked and discovered that the phone company gives three months' free voice mail to anyone who orders a new phone line. Daniel didn't know about this and therefore never picked up his messages!

The Other Side of the Story Archives

Based on "The Other Side of the Story" by Mrs. Yehudis Samet, ArtScroll Series

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