That ebullience lasted throughout the lesson. The girls were fresh and alert, with that first-day-of-school crispness. And, for the first time all year, she felt they were truly with her — that they were not just listening, but coming along with her for the journey through the perek of Navi. They asked the right questions, understood the right answers, and when, at last, she reached the climax of her lesson, when every piece fell perfectly into place, the gleam of astonished delight on the girls’ faces quickened her pulse so that she couldn’t help but grin with pleasure at her students.

This is what it means to teach!

Then the class was over, and the girls were leaving, thanking her as they passed by her desk. She was still reveling in the heady post-lesson feeling when the door popped open and ZeeZee rushed inside.

“Mrs. Edelman,” she gasped. “I’m so sorry I missed your class! I didn’t mean to skip, seriously, but somehow I overslept.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Guess that’s what happens when you stay up till three in the morning schmoozing with the eim bayit. She came into our room last night to talk to Shani. She got in trouble yesterday, you know, and somehow we all ended up staying up crazy late.”

ZeeZee took a breath. “Anyway, I just wanted to apologize. I heard girls talking outside just now, and it sounds like I missed out on something amazing.”

Chava stared at her, as several emotions battled inside. The girl had skipped her class — again. And on the first day back, no less. But she felt bad enough to come apologize. Chava was genuinely touched by that.

But why had she overslept — because of that new eim bayit? Because she felt it was more important for the girls to sit up late at night schmoozing with her than to make it to their classes the next morning? Indignation welled up inside as Chava remembered the indignity of the poorly attended teshuvah kennes.

ZeeZee was looking uncertainly at Chava, and now she turned as if to leave.

Quickly, Chava called out, “Wait.”

ZeeZee raised her eyebrows, and Chava suddenly felt a rush of affection for her. She came to apologize. ZeeZee’s heart was in the right place; she only needed some direction. And that was Chava’s job.

Now, she said, in a softened voice. “We spoke before vacation about your request for a different kind of chesed placement. I’m going to speak to Rabbi Freund today to get you that special permission. And then I’ll help you find the right setting that will really utilize your talents.”

Tammy was so exhausted from her three hours of sleep last night that when she saw Mrs. Bruckstein’s name coming up on her phone, she decided to ignore it. Her brain wasn’t working properly enough to handle such a sensitive conversation.

But after a minute of collecting her thoughts — and berating herself furiously for not being the one to call first, and explain her decision to cancel Shani’s punishment before Mrs. Bruckstein got wind of it — she made herself comfortable on her couch and returned the call.

As soon as Mrs. Bruckstein picked up, Tammy took the bull by the horns.

“You called about Shani’s punishment, I assume?”

“Yes, I was a bit surprised to hear…” The older lady paused politely, to give Tammy a chance to explain.

“I’m so sorry, I should have consulted with you first, but I was taken by surprise when I heard about the incident… and it was already so late at night….” Tammy heard herself chattering like a young girl, and she forced herself to slow down. “You see, I’ve gotten to know Shani well already, and I know that there were extenuating circumstances. Not that she should have had the smartphone — she was totally wrong — but, in her case, the punishment could have done real psychological damage. That’s why I decided to waive it.”

“Mm-hmm.” Mrs. Bruckstein was silent for a moment. “Mrs. Hurwitz, I know this is your first year here, so you’re probably unaware of accepted procedures. But when one of us issues some sort of disciplinary measure, it’s very important for the other one to uphold it. To have each other’s backs.”

Tammy tightened her grip on the phone. “I hear. Yes, you’re right, of course. But I’m wondering — what do you suggest I do when I know a punishment will be harmful for a girl?”

“What do you do when you disagree with your husband over a punishment he gave your child?” Mrs. Bruckstein asked. “You discuss it together, right?”

Tammy winced. She felt like telling Mrs. Bruckstein how insensitive such a comment could be — how, two years ago, it would have made Tammy cry under her blanket for at least an hour. Instead, she took a breath and said, “Okay. I’m sorry. Next time I’ll discuss it with you first.”

They hung up soon after, and, somehow, Tammy felt like hiding under her pillow anyway. Boy, she’d totally messed up that one.

Instead, she forced herself to think about dinner. Yehuda would be home in an hour.

As she stood up, she heard a knock on the door. Opening it, she saw Shani, twisting her hands.

“Okay if I come in?” she asked.

Tammy smiled. “Of course!” She was happy to note how comfortably Shani settled herself down on the couch; she’d come a long way from her awkward visits at the beginning of the year. Although — she squinted at the girl — was it her imagination, or was Shani thinner than she’d been when she first came to Israel? Had her clothes always hung so loosely? Had her eyes always appeared quite so big in her face?

Shani looked up at Tammy and said, “I just wanted to thank you again for sticking up for me yesterday. Mrs. Bruckstein was kind of upset when she heard this morning. I didn’t tell her, but ZeeZee let it slip. Still, I don’t know if you understand how much it meant to me”—she looked up at Tammy confidingly—“knowing that there’s an adult out there who’s on my side.”

Tammy swallowed. Mrs. Bruckstein was wrong, she realized. She had made the right decision.

Returning Shani’s gaze, she said, “And I always will be.”

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 731)