I

t was Erev Rosh Hashanah the final day of the year the day when we have one more chance to correct this year’s wrongdoings.

It’s an especially busy day for a rabbi.

With three different minyanim going on in the same shul it’s an undertaking making sure everything is in order. The phone is constantly ringing as people call with all types of halachic and hashkafic questions.

At about two in the afternoon Tuvia Solomon (name changed) calls. “Can I please come over this afternoon to talk to you?”

I’m perplexed while simultaneously perturbed; Erev Rosh Hashanah isn’t exactly a day for personal appointments and particularly so late in the day.

“Can it wait until Tzom Gedaliah? Today’s quite a busy day.”

“I would really appreciate it if you can make time for me today.”

Without too much excitement in my voice I told him to come at three.

Three o’clock arrived; Tuvia did not.

I waited until four and still no Tuvia. I was not happy.

As I was about to leave the phone rang. It was Tuvia wanting to know if he could still come.

Agitatedly I told him to come at five and not be late!

At five I’m in the office reviewing my derashah. It has to be delivered quicker and more to the point in the k’vasikin minyan and slower and more developed in the main shul.

Tuvia Solomon is nowhere to be seen.

Finally at 5:43 there is a knock.

I am more than a bit incensed by his lack of appreciation of my time and his not keeping his word.

He enters and I hide my annoyance; it’s Erev Rosh Hashanah and I must indulge him.

Tuvia sits down and begins to fidget with his phone. He doesn’t say a word.

Finally my patience reaches its limit and I can no longer contain my rising irritation.

“Excuse me Tuvia are you going to tell me why you wanted to see me today?”

Tuvia does not look at me he looks down and shuffles his feet.

“Tuvia” I say this time a little more forcefully “what can I do for you today?”

He looks at me and with tears in his eyes he says “Rabbi it’s really not about what you can do for me it’s about what I can do for you.”

I am totally exasperated and not in the mood for his cryptic conundrum. “Tuvia it’s no time for games what on earth can you do for me?”

He takes a deep breath. “Rabbi do you remember two months ago you told me you would call the seminary for my daughter to help get her in?”

“Yes” I stammered.

“Well you never did call and she never did get in. Your failing to call caused me and my family a great deal of pain and it was hard not to be angry with you. Finally she was accepted somewhere else and all is for the best. However it really hurt me that you forgot.”

With a sense of shame I said “I assume you came here to tell me you’re upset with me?”

“No not at all. I just wanted to tell you that I forgive you and you can go into Rosh Hashanah with a clean slate. It took me until 5:43 this afternoon to arrive at total forgiveness. However I did it and I had to tell you before the New Year that I forgive you.”

Suddenly there was nothing more important in the world than Tuvia Solomon and his pain.

“I am so sorry” I screamed.

Tuvia looked away. “I have already forgiven you” he said. “There is nothing more to say.”