Nikolai Has Got Time!

We left our apartment not knowing what exactly where we were going. We figured it would be a good idea to look for a mikvah. (You see, chassidim are particular to immerse in a body of “live” water before prayer. Such a pool is called a mikvah. In a pinch, a pool or a sauna can also do the trick for the pre-prayer dip, but not for other functions.) So we started asking people if they knew of a cheap place. A taxi driver told us about one, ripped us off on the fare, and dropped us off outside a sauna. The prices were high and non-negotiable! OK, not surprised!

So, we started heading back by foot—the long way. After 15 minutes or so, we saw some people hanging outside of some sort of building/bar/thingy. We went up to a guy with a beer in his hand to ask him about a pool, and he started going on about a pool . . . and the other sauna . . . and the lake . . . the river . . . etc. Before we left, we of course asked him if he was Jewish. He replied that his mother’s mother was Jewish. He did not know that that made him Jewish as well, but we were happy to fill him in.

If you do not speak the language very well, make sure that you have good books that can do the talking for you.

The guy had never heard of Shabbat or tefillin, but did hear that there’s a special “pension” offered just for Jews: Moshiach!

We explained to him that his putting on tefillin will bring Moshiach that much sooner, and he graciously complied. We invited him for Shabbat, and asked him if he thinks he’ll make it. He answered: “Of course! I'm on pension; I've got all the time in the world!”

We had nothing to write our contact details on. Thank G‑d for cigarette boxes (but not for cigarettes).