By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
At a young age, Avrumie Bukiet traveled from New York to pursue his studies at the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim – Rabbinical College of Canada in Montreal. Once, a teacher invited him over for a Shabbos meal. The young student was honored to have the opportunity and was welcomed warmly into their home.
Mid-meal, the teacher began to question Avrumie about the material he was studying. It was not long before the teacher had young Avrumie tripping up over difficult questions. It was clear that the teacher knew Avrumie would not be able to respond to his complex questions, and intended to encourage him to place more effort into his studies.
After Avrumie left the meal, he was so humiliated that he vomited at the first street corner. Although the teacher continued to invite him, Avrumie never returned to that house.
At a future date, he was invited by another teacher, Rabbi Volf Greenglass, who taught Chassidic philosophy and would regularly lead farbrengen gatherings at the yeshiva. Avrumie was unsure if he should go. Firstly, considering that Rabbi Greenglass regularly told the students not to indulge in materialism, surely the food would not be that good, he assumed. Secondly, he was afraid of being publicly shamed as the other teacher had done. He turned down the offer.
Rabbi Greenglass, however, did not give up so quickly. He told Avrumie that he was his father’s friend from Poland, and it was out of respect for his father that he was inviting Avrumie. The teen relented and joined the meal.
To his surprise, the meal was a pleasant experience. There was plentiful food and ice cream was served for dessert… and he wasn’t asked to say a word about his studies. Avrumie enjoyed his teacher’s stories, the thoughts shared on the Torah portion and the kind words about him.
After returning several times, and deepening his relationship with Rabbi Greenglass, Avrumie asked him, “Tell me, after everything you’ve told us at farbrengens, how is it that you serve ice cream in your home? And why don’t you test me on what I’m learning?”
“At school,” the teacher said, “you are a student, but in my home, you are a guest.”
Rabbi Greenglass continued, “To a guest, you give good food, and a guest you do not test. If I’d want to test you, I know where to find you.”
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Thanks for sharing
Thank you