It was a rainy evening when Reb Meir’s wife, Blima, found Freida

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eb Meir was a very wealthy businessman who lived in Europe. He was a colorful character, with lots of personality. He was extremely giving with his money, and his house was open to one and all. But he was also extremely exacting with others, and he would not tolerate any deviation from the truth. Kind, generous, but also somewhat uncompromising, Reb Meir was loved by all, even as he was treated with caution.

Members of his household included many orphans, usually orphan girls whom his wife would bring in to provide them with work so they would have money, and to ensure they always had food and shelter. Among these was a girl named Freida. At the time of our story, she had recently been brought under the shelter of Reb Meir’s home.

It was a rainy evening when Reb Meir’s wife, Blima, found Freida as she was rushing home from the marketplace. A servant whipped the horses as the wagon sped through the muddied roads, dodging merchants and customers fleeing for shelter from the rain, their hands pushing merchandise and rickety carts.

Blima found her eyes latching on to a short, bent-over girl, who was not taking refuge from the rain. She stood there on the corner, huddled over a small cart of vegetables. Something tugged at Blima’s heart.

“Stop.”

The wagon slowed, and Blima leaned out of the wagon.

“Excuse me! You need to get out of the rain before you get sick.”