Yerachmiel and the Sandwich

Yerachmiel was the son of an Orthodox rabbi. He dreamed of being a rabbi like his father. His parents dreamed of him becoming a Talmudic scholar.

His best friend was George, a non-Jew, who lived two blocks away in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa.

Yerachmiel’s  kept strictly kosher. Whenever he went to visit George, he would bring the sandwich of Kosher salami on rye, with mustard and a Kosher pickle that his mother had prepared. The Kosher pickle was very kosher.

One day, walking along Rideau Street, on the way to visit George, Yerachmiel dropped his sandwich into the Canadian winter slush.

In those days, there were no plastic bags. The sandwich was in a brown paper bag which quickly soaked up the unpalatable combination of snow, dirt, and the remains of car exhaust. He threw the bag into the nearest garbage can and continued to his friend’s house.

Yerachmiel arrived at George’s home. He was very hungry. There was a delicious smell of something fried coming from the kitchen. Something he had never smelled before. George and his family were just sitting down to dinner. They invited Yerachmiel to join them. They brought him mustard, pickles and rye bread. And something a bit like salami, but much better smelling. Yerachmiel was hungry.

In the weeks, months and years that followed, Yerachmiel would join George’s family on many occasions. On the way to his friend, he would keep the bread, mustard and pickle and throw out the salami. After all, the filling at George’s place was far superior.

He understood of course, the consequences of his love for the forbidden. On the other hand, he was not being punished by heaven for his weekly transgressions. His health was robust, he was the tallest and most charming student in his class. But over the years, he became more and more drawn to George’s family and their customs. After all, what could be wrong with helping them paint eggs on Easter and decorate the Christmas tree?

Yerachmiel never did become a rabbi. Last I heard he was teaching college courses on the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Does he still eat those special Kosher sandwiches? I must ask him the next time our paths cross.