The Secret Child: Chapter 5
The day Reb Pinchas returned with Eliezer was the most festive day in the history of his city. People danced in the streets, music shook the air, and songs of thanksgiving reached the heavens.
“Abba, I’m not used to such loud noise.” Eliezer held both hands over his ears.
“My dear boy…” Reb Pinchas embraced his son and held him close. “The last time they celebrated like this was at your bris.”
Reb Pinchas stared at the hundreds of smiling faces around them and whispered, “It has been a very long time since then.”
Eliezer lowered his hands and allowed himself to become used to the joyous din.
“Will I have to go away again, Abba?”
“No.”
Reb Pinchas turned away so that Eliezer could not see the tears that were falling from his eyes.
“What happened to the man who came with us? The one we had to carry because of his wounds?”
“Yonah is resting inside the house. Let’s take a break here and go visit him. Then we will finally go home and you can spend more time together with your mother.”
***
Reb Pinchas and Eliezer entered Beis Eliezer and walked into the room where Yonah was resting.
“Now that’s a sight for sore eyes.” Yonah grinned weakly through the many bandages over his face. His leg was splinted and his face was very pale. “I’m happy for you, Reb Pinchas.”
“None of this would have been possible without you. You are incredibly brave.”
“I’m not brave.” Yonah winced as he tried adjusting himself higher onto the bed. “I’m just not so smart. But you know what? I’d wrestle a bear again for sure.” Yonah’s laughter filled the room.
Eliezer walked forward silently until he was standing at the head of Yonah’s bed. He closed his eyes and began murmuring different pesukim and Sheimos of Hashem.
“What did you do?” Yonah’s eyes were wide with wonder.
“Hashem should give you a speedy refuah.”
Father and son left the room.
“You’re a special one, aren’t you?” Yonah felt his pain miraculously lifting from his beaten body. He swung one leg onto the floor and slowly stood to his feet. “Whoa…”
***
Talk of Eliezer’s brilliance in the hidden and revealed parts of Torah spread quickly in the city. People flocked to his house for brachos but his mother wisely kept the crowd at bay.
“You need time to adjust to your new life, my dear.” Bracha closed the curtains inside the house as people began pressing their noses against the glass to see inside. “No brachos, no segulos and no public discourses for at least a year!”
“But so many people need help! I don’t mind using my kochos for good!”
“You need to keep a low profile.” Brachah lowered her tone and a dark look crossed her face. “Abba already told you the three conditions Eliyahu gave to us.”
“Can I at least sit in yeshivah and learn with the other boys?”
“No.” Bracha saw the look of sadness on Eliezer’s face and she quickly added, “Soon.”
***
Though Eliezer was brilliant, he still did not want to wait an entire year. Every day he begged his parents to let him go to yeshivah, but they refused. Eventually, they had to give in somewhat, so they decided to bring the top bochur in the yeshivah to learn with Eliezer in the house.
“Eliezer, this is Avner. He will be your chavrusa for the rest of the year. After that we’re planning on sending you to the yeshivah.”
Avner was a short boy with raven black hair who always had a very serious expression.
Eliezer was overjoyed to see another boy his age in his home.
“Shalom aleichem.” Eliezer shook hands with Avner. “I’m looking forward to learning with you.”
“Likewise.” Avner looked nervous. “I brought two scrolls over. We can begin now.”
The two boys sat and learned for many hours. Though Avner was the most advanced student in the yeshivah, Eliezer was like his rebbi. Instead of learning with each other, Eliezer had to slow himself down and explain his brilliant chiddushim to the other boy.
A seed of jealousy was planted in Avner’s heart, and with each passing day that they learned he became increasingly envious of Eliezer’s abilities. Eliezer was oblivious to Avner’s discomfort and he loved his chavrusa dearly.
One day Avner could take it no more and he abruptly rolled up his scroll.
“What’s wrong?” Eliezer looked up in confusion.
“I can’t learn today.”
“Why?”
Avner swallowed hard. He could not share his true feelings.
“Um, your father happens to be giving a shiur right now in the yeshivah. I really want to hear it.”
“Okay, but I can’t come.” Eliezer looked downcast.
“If you would come you’d be the talk of the yeshivah.”
“Why is that?”
“Because…” Avner paused. “You’re so smart….”
Suddenly Avner had an idea. If Eliezer came to the yeshivah and proved himself smarter than everyone he talked to — which he surely would — then maybe Avner wouldn’t feel like such an ignoramus.
“Just come.” Avner grabbed Eliezer’s sleeve. “It makes no sense that only I get a glimpse of your brilliance.”
“I’m not allowed to.”
“For the sake of Torah, you can’t say no!”
Avner argued with Eliezer until he agreed to go.
They set off for the yeshivah in a hurry. On the way, neither one noticed the beggar who had very long, dirty fingernails and was wearing black clothing.
***
Eliezer entered the yeshivah with Avner and beheld a fantastic sight. His father was lecturing in front of 200 bochurim. He took a seat in the back of the room and drank in the words of wisdom his father was sharing.
“What do you think?” Avner whispered after a few minutes.
“He’s saying a beautiful pshat, but according to the sugya of hashavas aveidah it doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re allowed to ask questions.”
“Really? Even during the lecture?”
“Yes. Look, there’s someone asking a question right now.”
Eliezer watched a boy a few years older than him asking his father a question.
“See? Go ahead, Eliezer. Ask your question.”
Eliezer stood up slowly and began to speak in a soft tone. All heads turned in his direction. He respectfully finished explaining the problem with his father’s logic and tried not to notice how everyone was murmuring his praise and shaking their head with admiration.
Suddenly it hit Eliezer like a thunderbolt! He wasn’t allowed to argue against his father! He glanced at Avner and realized he had also broken the other condition by disagreeing with Avner during their learning.
“Eliezer…” Reb Pinchas’s face had turned deathly white. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry…” Eliezer felt as though the ceiling were about to cave in on top of him.
But it was much too late for apologies.
(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 750)
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