He would go to Boca, he decided. To anywhere, really. He wouldn’t stick around to see Heshy Brucker win

This was the third meeting in Rabbi Klarberg’s daughter’s house, and the first time that Rabbi Klarberg wasn’t wearing a jacket. Reuven thought that this was a good sign, an indicator that the rav was more relaxed than in the past.

That was a good thing, and the timing could not have been better.

Nechama had asked Reuven if he thought that maybe they had made a mistake, and perhaps they should cut their losses, flip the house, and join Moish and Helen in Boca. He had laughed the first few times she brought it up, but last night was the first time he had actually thought about what she was saying in a serious way.

Nechama had come home from the women’s shiur with the news that Akiva Putterman had quoted Heshy Brucker in the lecture. Later, Nechama explained that — as per Rina — Rabbi Putterman had only done it to be mechazek Shaindy Brucker, but still, it made Reuven Stagler bristle.

He was trying to build one sort of kehillah and Heshy was working against him. Putterman quoting Heshy, by name, was a blow. Reuven realized what it meant: The neighborhood was slipping away from him.

Lonner, over on Galway, had put up a tent for some parlor meeting, and Reuven had gotten reports that Heshy had hosted his Leil Shishi there the night after the tzedakah event. Now, it was almost a full week later, and the tent was still standing. This made Reuven wonder if they were planning more such events, maybe a little break-off minyan or something.

If that happened, he would go to Boca, he decided. To anywhere, really. He wouldn’t stick around to see Heshy Brucker win.