B"H
In Rabbi Mordechai Machlise's house Torah is not "only" studied but the Rabbi and his family also live it. So far, I have never seen too many Rabbis in my life doing what they are actually teaching.
Last Shabbat, I again spent a Shabbat with the Machlis family in Maalot Dafna / Jerusalem. Even after having lunch in Mea Shearim, I went to the Machlises later on.
The day before, on Erev Shabbat, most guests were already gone as the door opened and a guy named Ruven walked in. No one seems to know where he is really coming from but everyone knows that Ruven is homeless and a kind of weird with a towel wrapped around his head all the time. Last Friday night, Ruven walked in dressed in a long chassidic coat. Not that he is chassidic but he picks up clothes he finds in the streets. Underneath his long coat, he was walking around without any pants. That's what we thought and Rabbi Machlis apparently had the same thought, as he rushed into his private rooms in order so find some pants for Ruven. He did this in such a hurry that he was too nerves finding anything proper and so he gave one of his bests suits to the homeless guy. In the meantime, Ruven had just opened his coat (We had already thought: "Oh No !") and too everyone's surprise, he did wear pants; just rolled up due to the rain. Nevertheless, Rabbi Machlis gave him his suit as a present and didn't even hesitate.
Another homeless guy called Stephen (from Texas who claims to be a famous tax lawyer) spread out a mattress in the middle of the Machlis livingroom. A second Ruven, a Breslover Chassid and visitor from Hebron, slept downstairs. Joshua, one of the Rabbi's sons, brought in more sweets while we were sitting at the table with the other Machlis kids. We had a great time and stayed until after midnight without thinking too much of a chassidic Tish.
Last Erev Shabbat, we had a real Machlis Tish !
If anyone would like to contribute to the Machlis Shabbat hospitality:
A private donor organized 10.000 $ Dollar as a raffle price.
People should be made aware of the enormity of what the Machlis family does. They have mortgaged their small home and borrowed all they can to continue to help people from all over the world. On any Shabbos you will meat people from the middle-east to South America to Australia, and who knows where-else. In all my years I have never seen anyone give of themselves 24/7 and every day of the year (except the week of Pesach). I keep going back year after year, to see if it is just an occasional thing--it is not!!
ReplyDeletePlease, I urge your readers, if they ever feel the urge to make a donation, there is not better cause than the Machlis Family!! Everything they have goes to help others--without consideration to race or religion. This is true love for one's fellow man.