We had a team of girls from APO take down the Schach and a later a team of guys from AEPI come over and help us take out the boards and put away the Sukkah. The guys were there late, it was about 5pm on Sunday when they finished.
That day was also my (Mendel’s) sister’s yartzeit. Esther Aidel (Rubin) Cohen passed away three years ago just after Simchat Torah on the 25th of Tishrei. Our family gathered for a little meal together, to remember her, and to connect with her family in England via online.
My father wanted to begin with Mincha and Kaddish, but not everyone came in on time, and we didn’t have a Minyan. So I asked the frat guys if they’d stay to do the short Mincha prayer with us.
Jake spoke up and said, “Rabbi, in this attire!?”
They weren’t dressed for synagogue. (Now the truth is that at Shabbos House-Chabad we’re not hung up about these things, people come and are welcome as-is, and we don’t judge people by how they are dressed and it doesn’t matter much to us).
My father answered, “Sure!” and proceeded to tell the story of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Berditchever (whose yartzeit is also the same day, the 25th of Tishrei).
Once a wagon-driver was eager to get a head-start on his day, so towards the end of the morning prayers, before the prayers were over, he went out to his wagon to grease the wheels – while still wearing his Tallit and Tefillin. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditichev happened to see him. Another Rabbi would have been critical, how dare you grease your wagon like that…
But not Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, who was an advocate for the Jewish people. He turned his eyes heavenward and said, “G-d Almighty, look at your people Israel! Even when they grease wagon-wheels they pray!!”
So no worries about attire!
Btw, it was tremendously meaningful for us to say Kaddish for Esty, thanks to those who stayed to make it possible.