Suri, for her part, had been doubly outraged over all her wasted time and effort in pushing frum, blameless divorcées from excellent families as well as rich, Flatbush widows in Yaakov’s direction to no avail. And if that wasn’t enough, she’d forfeited a hefty fee by refusing Yaakov’s request to play matchmaker with Leah, something she had only done out of loyalty to Fruma Esther! Injury added to insult! But if you were a matchmaker in Boro Park, you didn’t have the luxury of holding on to grudges—no matter how justified—against respectable and influential members of the community who not only could sabotage your work with others but withhold their own kin from entering your bride-and-groom pools.

“Such a tragedy!” Suri shook her short, wig-covered head, sending the stiff plastic-looking bangs swinging. “The rav will be lost without his wife.” Her eyes glittered.

Yes, another client for you, Suri, Fruma Esther thought, but said nothing, simply letting out a long sigh.

“How are you feeling, Rebbitzen?” Suri asked anxiously.

“Me? The same as everyone else in this room, Suri.” Except you.

“And how is the young couple?” Suri probed, finally getting to the real reason she had zeroed in on Fruma Esther the moment she entered the room. Who knew? Divorces were not unheard of anymore these days. Especially when scholars like Yaakov Lehman got entangled in frivolous matches with wild, redheaded baalos teshuva. She had already heard rumors … She would be more than happy to give it another shot.

Fruma Esther, however, had her own agenda.

“They are very happy together, Suri. But I think the community could be a little more welcoming to Leah. She doesn’t have many friends, and sometimes her neighbors are not keeping the mitzvah of loving the stranger, bringing sin upon the whole community.”

“HaShem Yishmor!” Suri murmured, clicking her tongue nervously as she wondered where this was going.

“Really pious people among us need to help her,” Fruma Esther told her pointedly.

That got Suri’s attention. “Of course! But how?”

“You know, Suri, you have great influence in our community. You are one of our leaders,” Fruma Esther told the astonished matchmaker.

“Well … I…”

“No, no. Don’t be modest, Suri. You and I both know what people will do to make sure their children get a good shidduch. You investigate every match, talk to the bride’s kindergarten teachers, the groom’s rabbis, the storekeepers who deal with the parents to make sure they pay their monthly bills…”

Suri squirmed. “People depend on me to find out the truth before getting mixed up with some family that is trying to hide all its problems. Better you know what’s happening before the chasuna than after!” she cried.