Part II
Synopsis: Naomi, twenty-five, tall, talented and still
single, moves in with Ruth and Aharon, who are determined to
exit her -- married. Shadchonim, the old-fashioned
ones, abound, but the two reject their suggestions, one by
one.
Ever since he and his family had made aliya, Aharon and
their next-door neighbor, Moishe Chayim, studied together
every night. At the end of their night session, they would
shmooze over a cup of tea.
"I hear that your house guest is doing a tremendous job in
the new school for special children. Tell me, why isn't she
married yet?"
"Who knows?" Aharon shrugged. "Naomi's certainly had enough
opportunities. But if you ask me..." he added, lowering his
voice, "I'm not sure that she really wants to get
married."
Moishe Chayim looked up in surprise. "Really? What a shame!
What a waste!" He sipped his tea in silence, then mused
aloud. "Reminds me of my cousin Zelig. He's twenty-eight and
still not married. His rebbe, contrary to accepted
rabbinical opinion, says that as long as Torah is his only
love he can keep learning."
"Sounds a little strange to me. Who is this rabbi?"
"A big talmid chochom, Rabbi Hart. But Zelig's
parents are heartbroken. They want to see him married."
"What made you think of him now?"
Moshe Chayim pulled at his beard. "Oh, yes. You said that
you suspected that your young lady guest wasn't serious
about marriage. That's what reminded me of Zelig."
"How old did you say he is?"
"Twenty-eight."
Moishe Chayim suddenly snapped his fingers and jumped up
with a shout. "Of course! Why didn't I think of it before?
Those two would make a fantastic couple!"
"But didn't you just say that he doesn't want to get
married?" Aharon asked.
"He doesn't want to get married. She doesn't want to get
married. A perfect match!"
"What makes you think that he'll be ready now?"
"He's an only child. His parents are old and ailing and they
long to see him settled with a new generation on the way.
Under the circumstances, Rabbi Hart will have no choice but
to allow Zelig to comply with his parents' wishes. Oh, this
is great! I'll call them first thing in the morning."
*
After getting an enthusiastic O.K. from Zelig's parents,
Moishe Chayim arranged for Aharon to meet Zelig. He came
back with a raving report. From all that he'd heard and from
all that he'd seen, Aharon was certain that it was a match
made in Heaven. A heart of gold, the soul of a saint. Zelig
had already made a ripple in Torah circles as a scholar.
Naomi would finally be rewarded with the husband she
deserved. And this time, they wouldn't take `no' for an
answer.
Zelig's parents came to see Naomi, were won over with her
modest ways. Arrangements were then made for Zelig to meet
Naomi.
That night, Ruth served an early supper, bathed and bedded
down the kids. She wanted a quiet house when Zelig
arrived.
"Mommy, I'm thirsty."
"O.K. Yossele, go take a drink."
"Mommy, I'm also thirsty."
"Me, too."
Five little darlings, smiling from ear to ear, paraded into
the kitchen for drinks.
"O.K. everybody, back into bed with you!" Ruth told them,
reaching for the strap that hung on the wall.
"No, no, we're going," Daughter No. 3 laughed, holding on
protectively to the seat of her pajamas, knowing her mother
didn't intend to use it.
Then Child No. 5 remembered he had better go to the
bathroom. That started a new exodus and Child No. 4
remembered that she still hadn't kissed the
mezuza.
"Peace for the whole world!" Kiss. "Moshiach should come
already." Kiss. "Hashem should send Naomi a husband." Kiss.
Kiss. Kiss.
Finally, they were all back in bed. But though the clock was
turning, no one was sleeping. Each child instinctively knew
that something exciting was going to happen...
The doorbell rang. Naomi turned pale. "No, please don't
answer yet," she begged Ruth in a little voice that echoed
panic.
"Naomi, don't be so jittery," Ruth said kindly. "Aharon is
sure that you'll both hit it off fine. You'll see. Oh, there
goes the bell again." It sounded insistent. "It must be
him..."
Ruth said a little prayer and went to the door. She put on a
smile and pulled it open.
Instead of Moishe Chayim and Zelig, a beggar stood there.
His eyes were sad; his hand was stretched out. Ruth gave him
a coin and glanced at her watch. They were twenty minutes
late.
She went back to the kitchen. The doorbell rang again. This
time Aharon went to answer it. She heard the exchange of
warm greetings, told Naomi that she'd soon be back, and left
to join the guests in the Shabbos room.
As the men made conversation, she observed Zelig from the
corner of her eye. Not bad looking, she thought. He gives
the impression of being strong. An intelligent face,
beautiful long, tapered fingers, clean nails (that were
making designs on the tablecloth), almond shaped eyes full
of expression. Doesn't seem too happy to be here...
She asked to be excused and went to get Naomi.
After a few minutes, Moishe Chayim got up to leave,
explaining that he'd promised his wife that he'd be home
early. Aharon and Ruth saw him to the door.
Although Naomi and Zelig hadn't said a word to each other
while the others were in the room, once alone, there was a
steady hum of conversation, broken only by occasional
laughter.
*
Aharon yawned, looked up at the wall clock. "The buses will
soon stop running," he told Ruth.
"Maybe you should knock on the door and tell him."
"If they're still talking, I'd rather not disturb them."
In a little while, there was silence and the doors of the
Shabbos room rolled open. Naomi came in to tell them Zelig
was leaving and wanted to say good-night to them both.
When they came to the door, Zelig shook hands with Aharon
and smiled to Ruth. She blinked hard. When Zelig had entered
their house, he had been pale and solemn. Now he was
radiant.
"I'll be in touch with Moishe Chayim," he said as he left,
and nodded to Naomi.
"Nu?" Aharon asked, as they sat drinking tea. "How did it
go?"
"He's very nice," Naomi said quietly.
"You certainly had a lot to talk about," Ruth teased. "You
were in there talking non-stop for three hours straight!"
"That's because there was nothing that we agreed on, and he
was trying to convince me."
"Did he?"
"No."
"So what was he so happy about when he came out?"
"What makes you think he was happy?"
"Well, he absolutely shone!"
Naomi blushed. "I really wouldn't know about that... But
he's very nice."
*
From the window, Ruth could see all the children on the
block congregated in front of the house, excitedly waiting
for the bride to come out. A taxi pulled up, the driver
honked the horn. Everyone took a last look in the mirror and
started down. The neighbors stood in their open doorways,
blessing Naomi as she passed. "It should be with
mazel and joy." They wiped at their tears.
*
The music stopped. The crowd pushed back. Zelig reached for
the veil that his mother held and spread it over Naomi's
hair and face.
Zelig's father stepped closer, placed his hands over the
bride's veiled head and with tears streaming down his face,
he whispered, "May you be as our Matriarchs, Sora, Rivka,
Rochel and Leah. May Hashem bless you..."
*
A hush filled the garden, a silence filled the night. All
that could be heard was the sound of Zelig praying. Standing
beneath the canopy, he seemed to be in another world, a High
Priest in the Beis Hamikdosh, a cherub covering the Ark. A
whisper of violin tore at the silence. An undefined ache
tugged at the soul.
A somber spirit filled the hall. Like that of Yom Kippur
when the Gates of Heaven close . . .
