Baruch: This is total bittul Torah, I’m only here because of kibbud eim.

Zaidy: I have to get my hearing aid fixed. I can’t understand a word Baruch says.

Chavrusa: It’s so not Baruch’s type to miss our lunch-seder. When I asked him where he’s going, he just said, “Somewhere.”

“This is Baruch,” Mrs. Moskowitz says, looking at her son with pride. The pride fades to exasperation when he doesn’t respond. “Uh, Baruch?”

Baruch lifts his eyes briefly, gives a small smile, and mumbles, “Hi.” He’s holding a Gemara in one hand and a large cappuccino with whipped cream in the other.

“I’ll be waiting outside,” his mother says and makes her escape.

Baruch sits down, balancing the Gemara on his knees. His shirt is pressed, and his shoes are classy and clean; clearly he cares about his appearance.

“Nice to meet you,” I say. I get an incoherent mumble in reply. “Can you tell me a little about yourself?”

Baruch looks trapped. “Uh… like what?”

“Anything. Your family, your friends, your interests?”

“Umm…” Long pause. “I’m th’oldest.” Another pause. “I go to rbbi lnda shva, m ften, snear mhouse soway dndrm.”

I lean back. “Sorry, I missed that. Can you say it a little slower?”

“I-min Rabbi Landau’s yeshivah,” he repeats, a little slower. “M 15, s’near my house soIdon’tdorm.”

“Oh, nice. And do you have any interests or hobbies?”

“Nah.” He rubs the Gemara. “No time. Imin, smetimes Idosum stuff wi’ people.”

He gestures vaguely. “Like… we go places and… whatever. You know?”

I probably do know, which is a good thing since he hasn’t told me much. “Do you know why we’re here?”

“Uh… Because my mother said I should come.”

“Your parents say they have a hard time understanding you.” Mirel had described Baruch’s speech as “too quiet and too fast,” saying that he swallowed his words, and it was “impossible to understand him.”

“Do you think there might be others who also have a hard time understanding you?”

“All my friends talk like this,” he says. I wait. “Maybe I talk a little faster,” he allows, grudgingly.

“What about other people? Relatives, neighbors? Do they have a hard time understanding you?”

“I dunno.” He shifts a little in his chair. “But really… I’m 15, I sh’ be in yeshivah now. Does it matter?”

By his mother’s account, Baruch is bright, works hard in yeshivah, and is a sought-after chavrusa. He’s kindhearted and gets along well with his friends and siblings. He has a lot to offer — if he can present it well. Does his manner of speech matter? His mother thinks it does.

“Maybe that’s something you should discuss with your rosh yeshivah.”

He bobs his head, clearly uncomfortable. “Okay.”

Originally featured in Family First, Issue 632. D. Himy, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist in private practice for over 15 years. She is the creator of the Link-It reading comprehension and writing curriculum for elementary school students and directs continuing education programs for speech-language pathologists and educators.