The workers never came — because the Rebbetzin had refused to allow it

The snow that blanketed Lakewood made walking difficult, and driving even harder. Crews at Beth Medrash Govoha got to work clearing out the parking lots and walkways for thousands of talmidim arriving for seder, but just across the street, at the Rosh Yeshivah’s home, a woman worked alone.

It was the wife of Rav Yisroel Neuman, shoveling the path leaving from her home, and more than one passerby called the yeshivah’s office to alert them, suggesting that some of the workers come over and relieve her.

But the workers never came — because the Rebbetzin had refused to allow it.

Rebbetzin Neuman has made it her life’s mission to enable her husband, a legendary masmid, to learn virtually without cease. But this, clearing the walkway of snow before his return from first seder, isn’t something she often gets to do.

She was grateful for the offer, she told the maintenance staff, but the zechus was just not available.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 848)