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Chapters (45)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. EPILOGUE
  41. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  42. GLOSSARY
  43. Also by Naomi Ragen
  44. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  45. Newsletter Sign-up

“I’m so sorry we involved you in our problems, Bubbee. Thank you so much for coming, for giving us your advice, which I’m sure is good. Please, don’t worry about us. We will take care of it,” Yaakov said, smiling bravely, helping her up and bringing her coat.

“Put this one in the freezer; it’s for Shabbos. Chicken legs. And this one is a babka. Chocolate. The kind the kinderlach liked from last time,” she said, pointing to the plastic containers on the table.

“I’ll drive you back,” Leah offered, but Fruma Esther just shook her head. “My doctor tells me enough with the sitting around all day! The more I walk, the better it is for me. But thank you.” She touched Leah’s smooth cheek, looking into her worried eyes. And I once thought this girl wasn’t frum enough to marry into our family, to live in our community! She and Yaakov were truly the bravest and most pious people she knew, God should only bless them. What was going to happen now? Perhaps Yaakov would be able to defend himself. But Leah? The gossipmongers and back-talkers would rip her to shreds if she dared to take them on. What had happened so far was nothing.

30

THE CHORBYN

The next day, Yaakov called Halpern from the office. “I can’t take off time from work, Rav Halpern. I want to thank you for your patience. My wife, Leah, she’s very protective of my children. Maybe she got a little verklempt. No, of course we aren’t going to the police! And we have only the deepest respect for the Bobelger Rebbe.” He paused, listening helplessly to the furious diatribe of the man on the other side of the line. “So what happened, happened,” he mollified. “I understand Rav Grub isn’t going to take her back even if she wants to go … What? What do you mean if we beg him? We are not beggars, and besides, he isn’t the right psychologist for her. And we all want what’s best for her, right? I’m glad you agree. You don’t? Listen, Rav Halpern, I don’t think threats are good, not from me and not from you. So let’s settle this like frum Yidden, with rachmones, all right? The child has only a few months left until she graduates.”