“Nu, Bubby, come on, shtell hock,” he said, and she looked at him primly, as if she had no idea what he meant

“You know,” he told them, “the new neighborhood in Florida is only for the real gvirim, they’re very picky.”

They had seven bochurim, most of them too tired or unmotivated to look for somewhere more exciting

She stopped, a bit embarrassed at her outburst. Chaim just continued speaking as if she had said nothing at all

Reuven Stagler had a different vision for Alameda Gardens and its shul

“It’s like you’re running your own little show within this kehillah, is what I’m trying to say, I guess”

“It’s just not the sort of kiddush we’re used to here,” Reuven said, aiming for an amiable tone. He would be the reasonable leader, appealing to logic and not emotion

It was that line that effectively ended the conversation, the menahel using Heshy’s own words to checkmate him

"Akiva, trust me, this is something unhealthy,” Reuven insisted. “My only question is what I’m seeing and how to react”