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I came across this nice story today.
"The story I’m about to share with you about Joe Biden is special -- in fact, I’m fairly certain I’m the only living person left who actually witnessed it firsthand.
It was about 16 years ago, and I was a young rabbi, brand-new to Delaware,
"The story I’m about to share with you about Joe Biden is special -- in fact, I’m fairly certain I’m the only living person left who actually witnessed it firsthand.
It was about 16 years ago, and I was a young rabbi, brand-new to Delaware,
on my way to lead a shiva minyan -- a worship service following a death of a Jewish person...In this case, the deceased individual -- her name was Mrs. Greenhouse, of blessed memory -- had not been a person of means. Her apartment had been too small to fit everyone into, so we
conducted our worship service in the building’s communal laundry room, in the basement of the high-rise.
We assembled the ten elders together, and it was in this most humble of places that I began to lead the kaddish. Toward the end of the service, a door at the back of the
We assembled the ten elders together, and it was in this most humble of places that I began to lead the kaddish. Toward the end of the service, a door at the back of the
laundry room opened, and who walks in but Senator Joe Biden, his head lowered, all by himself. I nearly dropped my prayer book in shock.
Senator Biden stood quietly in the back of the room for the duration of the service. At the close of the kaddish, I walked over to him and
Senator Biden stood quietly in the back of the room for the duration of the service. At the close of the kaddish, I walked over to him and
asked the same question that must have been on everyone else’s mind: “Senator Biden -- what are you doing here?”
And he said to me: “Listen, back in 1972, when I first ran for Senate, Mrs. Greenhouse gave $18 to my first campaign. Because that’s what she could afford. And every
And he said to me: “Listen, back in 1972, when I first ran for Senate, Mrs. Greenhouse gave $18 to my first campaign. Because that’s what she could afford. And every
six years, when I’d run for reelection, she’d give another $18. She did it her whole life. I’m here to show my respect and gratitude.”
...There were no news outlets at our service that day -- no Jewish reporters or important dignitaries. Just a few elderly mourners in a basement
...There were no news outlets at our service that day -- no Jewish reporters or important dignitaries. Just a few elderly mourners in a basement
laundry room. Joe Biden didn’t come to that service for political gain. He came to that service because he has character. He came to that service because he’s a mensch.
And if we need anything right now when it comes to the leadership of our country -- we need a mensch.
And if we need anything right now when it comes to the leadership of our country -- we need a mensch.
...I think that, in their heart of hearts, when people are trying to think about the decision they’ll make this year -- this is the kind of story that matters.
Joe Biden is a mensch. We need a mensch.
Thanks for reading.
-- Rabbi Michael Beals of Delaware"
Joe Biden is a mensch. We need a mensch.
Thanks for reading.
-- Rabbi Michael Beals of Delaware"
