“Chesed Tzirel is not and never has been about your ego, and anyone who thinks it is doesn’t know you”

Ayala got off the bus and, feeling too agitated to go home, headed straight to Bracha’s.

“I made a huge mistake,” she said, pacing back and forth across Bracha’s living room, displacing small toys on the floor as she strode.

Bracha, folding laundry on her couch, watched her in amusement.

“Heels on a Tuesday? I agree, it was a big no-no for any sane person, but really, there’s no need to eat yourself up over it. Or kick all the toys around my living room with those stilettos.”

Ayala cracked a smile. “Stilettos, hah hah.” Bending down to pick up several Magna-Tiles, she said, “The sheitel and heels are because I went with Dini to meet that fancy-shmancy consultant today.”

“Oohh. Can I guess that it didn’t go well?”

Ayala shrugged. “It was fine. I think. It’s what happened afterward that got me upset.”

She told Bracha about the conversation with Mrs. Reiner.

“Did you ever? How nice to be rich. You get to interfere in other people’s lives as much as you want.” Ayala clenched her hands. Why hadn’t she anticipated this when she’d agreed to let Reiner and chevreh step in with financing. “What’s that expression? The baal hamei’ah is the baal hadei’ah?”

Bracha whistled. “Though, I don’t know,” she said slowly. “If someone were offering me a free session with the top marketing professional in the world, I don’t think I’d quibble about mei’ah and dei’ah.”

Ayala stared at her incredulously. “You wouldn’t — wouldn’t… sell your soul for money!” she spluttered.

Bracha’s lips curled. “Now we’re getting melodramatic. Sell your soul? We’re talking about marketing your organization!”

Ayala gritted her teeth. First Dini and now Bracha; how could her closest friends not understand how she was feeling?

Feeling suddenly deflated, she turned away, muttering, “I should really get back to my kids. Thanks for letting me blow off steam.”

Bracha’s smirk faded. Jumping off the couch, she walked over and gave Ayala a hug. “Sorry I wasn’t giving you the empathy you deserve. I agree it hurts watching someone claim to know better than you what your own organization needs.” She patted Ayala’s arm. “I was just trying to give you the advice, that from my outsider’s perspective, I’d want someone to give me.”

She pulled away and looked Ayala in the eye. “Don’t let your ego get in the way of grabbing a really remarkable opportunity.”