Page 40 - issue
P. 40
Death of A Salesman
CELEBRATING 32 YEARS! Kippur. He was only concerned with the taanis, while the car-
diologist was more concerned about his heart. Dad checked
B ROTH ERS B R OT HE R S with Rabbi Feldman, his Rav, who instructed him that he
must listen to his doctor and not fast, because of piku’ach
2014 B RO T HE RS nefesh. Dad worked it out, though, and after convincing the
doctor and Rabbi Feldman that intravenous would suffice for
B ROT H ER S nourishment, he finally got the okay to fast that Yom Kippur.
Previous Awards As a youngster, it was accompanying Dad on his business
2014 – 2007 trips that probably had the greatest impact on me. This kind
of chinuch was different from learning a mishna from my
32 Dad but just as rewarding and always a lesson for life. Dad’s
Torah was his actions and the way he led his life. For
instance, Dad always had a makom kevua, a specific place to
daven Mincha if he couldn’t get to a shul. Today, whenever I
pass that spot on New York Avenue on the way out of
Washington D.C., I can visualize my father and I davening
there. To me, it will always be a makom kodesh, a holy place.
Dad would always get to a shul, if possible, and he was
given the key to the Georgetown shul, where he often dav-
ened when in Washington. He also used the sukka there and
was well known in that shul. Dad had many accounts in
Georgetown and usually ate lunch in the spring, summer, and
fall in a local park. He picked a particular bench right in front
of the tennis courts, so he could watch the tennis players dur-
ing lunch. But more importantly, there was a water fountain
next to the bench, so he could wash before saying Hamotzi
on bread.
I will never forget the summer day he took me with him to
his business calls in Georgetown. I loved watching Dad inter-
act with the customers, making the sale, and writing those
hefty orders. At 12:00 o’clock sharp, we were off to the park
for lunch. We unpacked the lunch, spread the sandwiches
and drinks on the bench, and proceeded to the water foun-
tain with a paper cup to wash. To our dismay, there was no
water in the fountain that day.
Proud of my ability to tell my Dad about a new heter I had
learned in school, I explained that if you had no water at
hand, you could hold the bread in a napkin and by not touch-
ing the bread avoid washing. Dad gave me a funny but stern
look, promptly packed up lunch, and went back to the car. We
drove to a nearby hotel, where we washed, and then we
returned to the park. Dad did not believe in shortcuts. If you
were supposed to wash, then you washed. When we discussed
shiurim – whether you had to wash on one slice of pizza or
maybe only on two – Dad would give me that same funny
look, and he would always say, “If you eat because you are
hungry, then consider it a meal, and if so, you must wash.”
Kashrus on the road was often difficult. Dad traveled to
Harrisburg, Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News, and
Charlottsville, and sometimes even as far as the Carolinas.
When passing through their towns in Virginia, Dad frequent-
ed families like the Lawrences and Franks for a hot kosher
dinner. In Norfolk, he would eat at Rabbi Joe and Frances
36 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
CELEBRATING 32 YEARS! Kippur. He was only concerned with the taanis, while the car-
diologist was more concerned about his heart. Dad checked
B ROTH ERS B R OT HE R S with Rabbi Feldman, his Rav, who instructed him that he
must listen to his doctor and not fast, because of piku’ach
2014 B RO T HE RS nefesh. Dad worked it out, though, and after convincing the
doctor and Rabbi Feldman that intravenous would suffice for
B ROT H ER S nourishment, he finally got the okay to fast that Yom Kippur.
Previous Awards As a youngster, it was accompanying Dad on his business
2014 – 2007 trips that probably had the greatest impact on me. This kind
of chinuch was different from learning a mishna from my
32 Dad but just as rewarding and always a lesson for life. Dad’s
Torah was his actions and the way he led his life. For
instance, Dad always had a makom kevua, a specific place to
daven Mincha if he couldn’t get to a shul. Today, whenever I
pass that spot on New York Avenue on the way out of
Washington D.C., I can visualize my father and I davening
there. To me, it will always be a makom kodesh, a holy place.
Dad would always get to a shul, if possible, and he was
given the key to the Georgetown shul, where he often dav-
ened when in Washington. He also used the sukka there and
was well known in that shul. Dad had many accounts in
Georgetown and usually ate lunch in the spring, summer, and
fall in a local park. He picked a particular bench right in front
of the tennis courts, so he could watch the tennis players dur-
ing lunch. But more importantly, there was a water fountain
next to the bench, so he could wash before saying Hamotzi
on bread.
I will never forget the summer day he took me with him to
his business calls in Georgetown. I loved watching Dad inter-
act with the customers, making the sale, and writing those
hefty orders. At 12:00 o’clock sharp, we were off to the park
for lunch. We unpacked the lunch, spread the sandwiches
and drinks on the bench, and proceeded to the water foun-
tain with a paper cup to wash. To our dismay, there was no
water in the fountain that day.
Proud of my ability to tell my Dad about a new heter I had
learned in school, I explained that if you had no water at
hand, you could hold the bread in a napkin and by not touch-
ing the bread avoid washing. Dad gave me a funny but stern
look, promptly packed up lunch, and went back to the car. We
drove to a nearby hotel, where we washed, and then we
returned to the park. Dad did not believe in shortcuts. If you
were supposed to wash, then you washed. When we discussed
shiurim – whether you had to wash on one slice of pizza or
maybe only on two – Dad would give me that same funny
look, and he would always say, “If you eat because you are
hungry, then consider it a meal, and if so, you must wash.”
Kashrus on the road was often difficult. Dad traveled to
Harrisburg, Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News, and
Charlottsville, and sometimes even as far as the Carolinas.
When passing through their towns in Virginia, Dad frequent-
ed families like the Lawrences and Franks for a hot kosher
dinner. In Norfolk, he would eat at Rabbi Joe and Frances
36 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
