The Human Side of the Story

For the week ending 25 March 2006 / 25 Adar I 5766

The Wrong Class

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l
Become a Supporter Library Library

When a new student arrived at Ohr Somayach with the intention of doing some Torah study before beginning his residency for being licensed as a physician in the U.S., he was assigned to one of the Ulpan classes for beginners with limited knowledge of Hebrew.

He walked into the Ulpan class taught by Rabbi Avraham Zuroff and soon realized hat he had wandered into the wrong class. It turned out, however, to be the right class in another sense when Rabbi Zuroff asked him his name. Upon hearing the family name Rabbi Zuroff commented that his child’s pediatrician in Kiryat Sefer had the same name. The student turned pale upon hearing the full name of the doctor and then explained why.

About 20 years ago this young man’s parents were divorced in Russia. He went to the U.S. with his mother and heard rumors that his father eventually came to Israel. During several trips to Israel he made unsuccessful attempts to locate his father, even enlisting the services of a friend in Army Intelligence. Only now, by coming to Ohr Somayach and entering the wrong Ulpan class did he finally succeed in being reunited with his long-lost father.

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to The Human Side of the Story

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.