Before we lived in Israel, my wife and I were frequently in Manhattan. There was a certain restaurant we frequented, which was owned by Italians who were careful to adhere to the highest standards of kashrus. They had developed a devoted Jewish clientele. There was a beloved waiter – let’s call him Enrico – a real gentleman who had a way of endearing himself to his customers.
Over the years, the restaurant closed, but the local clientele missed this charming place. Several years ago, Enrico decided to open his own restaurant in the same neighborhood. Like its predecessor, it was quiet, elegant, honest and respectful, staffed by non-Jews who observed the manners of yesteryear, meaning that they dressed modestly and kept an establishment which was spotless, honest and, significantly, did not charge the exorbitant prices charged by some restaurants which call themselves “upscale.” Enrico brought with him the headwaiter from the old restaurant and they opened for business.
What amazed us was the instant success of this place. Through various economic cycles, through blizzards, Arctic winters and scorching summers, this restaurant thrived, filled with the well-to-do denizens of this Jewish enclave of New York City.
Recently, my wife and I returned to the U. S. to spend Pesach with our American children. We were in Manhattan and stopped in to see Enrico and partake of his home-cooked Italian food. Something happened that evening which astonished us and taught us what may be the reason Hashem is blessing him with such success.
We arrived early. Other customers entered the restaurant, most of the men wearing yarmulkas. At one point, a man entered who had the appearance of success and power which indicated that he was used to having others do his bidding. I noticed that he was carrying a handmade leather case which was obviously made to carry a wine bottle, and indeed I could see that inside it – there were perforations which allowed one to look at the contents -- was a bottle of expensive-looking wine which he brought to his table, where others were waiting for him.
This shocked us. Here is a kosher restaurant with a mashgiach on premises (although I noticed that he had just left for a few minutes). People do not bring their own food into such a place. What was this man doing bringing in his own wine? But he looked like someone with whom one doesn’t argue, so I assumed that he was just going to get away with it. We found this upsetting.
Please see how Hashem runs this world and let us praise Him forever for His kindness to us creatures of flesh and blood!
It was not long before our old friend, the head waiter, came over to me, and he was carrying this man’s expensive bottle of wine. He said, “Mr. Neuberger, can you please read the Hebrew writing on this bottle for me. I want to know whether it is mevushal or not.”
My friends, let me ask you: how many Jews know what “mevushal” means? And how many non-Jews care what “mevushal” means? But the headwaiter had seen everything and was not going to let this man use his wine unless it was not only kosher, but mevushal!
I looked at the bottle and saw clearly stated that the wine was “not mevushal.”
That was it. The headwaiter was not going to let the man open his wine. Enrico was in total agreement. My wife and I were in shock! The awe of G-d was upon them!
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the words of Malachi ha Novi, who stated that “those who fear the Name of Hashem” would survive whatever happens during Acharis ha Yomim to see the Great World of Moshiach at the time of our Final Redemption. Here my wife and I saw two non-Jews who were more in awe of the Master of the Universe than they were of their wealthy client!
Now we knew why Hashem had blessed this place! Here was a place where the laws of the Torah were held in awe … by non-Jews!
My friends, if only all Am Yisroel would hold Hashem’s Torah in such awe! If only all Am Yisroel would bow down before the Master of the Universe, we would soon see a world of simcha and peace and unity, filled with bracha, where all men would act like brothers and “the sun of righteousness” will shine for us “with healing in its rays….” And the Novi continues: “Behold, I send you Eliyahu ha Novi before the coming of the great and awesome day of Hashem. And he will turn back the hearts of fathers with [their] sons and the hearts of sons with their fathers….”
May we see that day soon!
GLOSSARY
Acharis ha Yomim: the days before Moshiach
Eliyahu ha Novi: Elijah the Prophet
Malachi ha Novi: Malachi the Prophet
Mashgiach: rabbi who supervises kashrus in a restaurant
Mevushal: cooked kosher wine, which may be served by non-Jews
