I’d thought switching yeshivos was just a suggestion — now it was a threat

The chairs were hard. I felt like I was in trouble. I glanced at Avrumi, he seemed settled enough.

“I called you down today because something interesting came up.” The Rosh Yeshiva was stroking his beard again.

I tried to keep a poker face. There was only one interesting thing that could have come up. Avrumi cleared his throat. What a way to tell us. Rabbi Ciner, principal of the school where I’d worked before we moved, didn’t operate like this; we would’ve know what the meeting was about before we arrived.

“It seems like your Chaim has been quite the enterprising chevraman. He’s been running a business, helping the boys in yeshiva.”

To admit or not to admit. The pros, the cons.

“Actually,” Avrumi interrupted. “My wife and I know about this. We found out very recently—just last week.”

Well, that’s one decision I didn’t have to make.

The Rosh Yeshiva let go of his beard and leaned forward, grasping his desk. “And?”

Avrumi shot a look at me. As if I’d been the one to confess.

“We spoke to Chaim, and told him he either needs to stop or to consider finding a new yeshiva,” I said.

Avrumi sputtered.

“Ah, so you were mechaven to me.” The Rosh Yeshiva leaned back. “What happened next?”

I shrugged, like his words hadn’t rattled me. I’d thought switching yeshivas was just a suggestion - now it was a threat.

“Nothing yet, he didn’t decide.”

The Rosh Yeshiva shook his head slightly. “So I planned on talking to you, then bringing Chaim in, and having him make a decision. The way I see it, Chaim is expressing his ratzon, and that’s fine, but it’s just not the mehalech of this yeshiva. ”

“Avada he’ll choose to stay. Are you going to penalize him?” Avrumi asked.

“If he chooses to stay, there will be epes a slap on the wrist, just so the other boys don’t take over his business. They’ll know he was given the choice to stop or leave, so that will be enough. And if he leaves, well…” The Rosh Yeshiva trailed off.

I winced internally every time the Rosh Yeshiva said the word leave. Avrumi visibly twitched.

“Wait,” I said. Both Avrumi and the Rosh Yeshiva looked at me.

“Please don’t call Chaim in today.”