When Lives Collided on a Summer Roadtrip

By COLlive reporter

A summer road trip of a group of bochurim led to lives colliding – with positive results.

Bochurim Motty Smith and Yussi Fischer are spending the summer traveling with two other bochurim, and recently spent a few days camping in New Hampshire.

The group had planned on staying in New Hampshire for a few more days, but they had a problem booking a spot at the campsite they were hoping to visit, so last Thursday, they found themselves driving south through Connecticut.

While traveling through some area in Connecticut, they got into a minor collision with a passing vehicle, when the driver attempted to turn left ahead of their car right before a big intersection.

After a few seconds, during which both drivers contacted the police for assistance, the fellow in the other vehicle got out of his car.

“He noticed our distinct Jewish look,” one of the bochurim, Yussi Fischer, told COLlive.

“He excitedly exclaimed, ‘Ah… Mishpoche (family)!'”

Immediately, after confirming that nobody was hurt, Motty Smith, another one of the bochurim, jumped out of the car.

“If we are Mishpoche, then let’s lay Tefilin! Have you had a chance today?” Motty asked.

“No, it’s been years!” replied the fellow, who says his name is Reb Yossel.

And before you can say, “slow down, someone’s merging left!” Yossel’s sleeve is up and promptly wrapped in Tefillin, followed by his head.

And so, when the police arrive, they are greeted by a friendly scene of a group of Jewish people. Confused, the officers ask “where the other party is.”

Because we are one party – “Mishpoche” as Reb Yossel put it…

“It’s amazing how we were meant to meet this person,” Fischer told COLlive. “Not only were we down south days earlier than expected, at the last minute we decided to max out the car’s gas (to under 10 miles) so we can get to the nearby gas station to get gas for a cheaper price, which is where we had been right before the accident.

“Just as in the famous story, when a Tzadik observes a little leaf torn from its tree to be flown to a tiny worm who desperately needed some shade, we are no less than the leaf, being blown, guided and directed by Hashem so a fellow Yid can do a desperately wanted Mitzvah,” he said.