It’s almost Passover now, but at his 18th yarzteit we just heard this beautiful, humorous and telling Sukkot story about the hearty and warm Chassid, my grandfather, Reb Moshe Rubin, of blessed memory, from Reb Leibel Morrison of Chabad in Troy NY.
Here’s how Reb Leibel tells it:
This dates back in the day when I was at the SUNY campus I used to put up a portable Sukkah on the Campus Center. I schlepped it out of the Shabbos House basement and loaded up the trunk of my car: boards, branches and all. It wouldn’t fit, the trunk would not close. I was in a rush, so I figured I’d just hope for the best as its a short ride from Shabbos House to the UAlbany Campus Center.
Reb Moshe Rubin was staying then at Shabbos House for part of Sukkos. He wanted to help me load the car, but I told him I had it under control. Reb Moshe Rubin liked to take his time, but I was rushed. He was very adamant, he really wanted to help, but I was running late, the car was already loaded and I was eager to pull out.
He then told me that I needed something to tie down the trunk so the Sukkah and branches won’t fall out. I was in a hurry, didn’t have any rope handy, so I told him it would be fine. He then pulled off his belt and offered it to me, insisting that I tie down the trunk with it. I said I could not do that to him. His belt was no accessory, it was not for show, it literally held up his pants. But he insisted and wouldn’t let me go otherwise. He said it gave him an opportunity to be part of this Mitzvah of helping the students. So I used the belt, and he was very happy and wished me Hatzlacha (success) as I pulled out.
————-
There has to be some message as to why we heard this Sukkot story just before Passover. True, it is a great story and eternally relevant regardless of the holiday, but as the Rebbe would say, there’s always a reason, some kind of connection, always a message…
When the Torah describes how the Jews at the first Passover were to eat the Matzah and the Paschal Lamb, it says: “Masneichem Chagurim” which is usually translated as gird your loins – be ready. In plain English gird your loins means put on a belt, or be ready to go, get your coat on.
This story about my grandfather’s belt gives me new perspective, a twist on this Biblical verse on the Exodus. Yes, a belt holds things together. Without a belt we can’t go out. Even my car has a timing belt (expensive maintenance item, btw) that keeps the engine in sync. But sometimes the best readiness, the best sign of dedication, is when we are ready to give that belt away…