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M rs. Roth was running late. Very late. Panting and sweating in the overheated kitchen she stirred a massive pot of creamy pea soup.

“Ima we still have one more meal to cook!” chorused Yoni and Hodaya.

“Oh no don’t tell me that!” Mrs. Roth glanced at the sauce-splattered clock on the crowded kitchen counter. “We already have to deliver 35 meals tonight!”

“Ima you’re the biggest chesed lady I know” Hodaya said staring in admiration as her mother began piling pans and disposal silverware onto a large metal cart. “How many years have you been cooking food for needy people in our apartment building?”

“Baruch Hashem Hashem gives me the strength!” Mrs. Roth responded quietly. She glanced down at the wrinkled list of names in her hand. “Oh you two were right! A new person was added to our list. Mrs. Berger on the third floor. It says here for dinner she requested a—”

“A pickle!” Yoni chortled. “I already prepared it!” He held up a plastic plate with a small green pickle in the middle.

“Um...” Mrs. Roth looked utterly confused. “It does say here that’s what she requested… But… a pickle for supper?”

“Ima!” Hodaya pointe

d at the clock. “We’re already five minutes late!”

“Okay kids let’s go!” Mrs. Roth led the way pushing the cart into the hallway. Yoni did the knocking Hodaya made the small talk and Mrs. Roth lovingly handed each dinner recipient their carefully prepared supper.

“Thank you Roth family!

“Chazak u’baruch! You kids are amazing!”

“Hashem should bless you!”

A half hour later they arrived at their last stop on the third floor.

Yoni knocked three times and Hodaya called out “Shalom! Are you home Mrs. Berger? Your supper is ready!”