There’s No Place Like Home!
We were delighted to host a “Dror Welcomes You Home!” event for newly released prison inmates and their families on Motzei Shabbos, November 5th, 2011. The simcha in the air was as tangible as the inmates’ former prison bars.
An emotional Rabbi Stein regaled the crowd with a story from Gemara Bava Kama:
During the times of the second Beis Hamikdash, the tzaddik, Nichunyeh, was dedicated to digging wells for the travel-weary masses of Klal Yisroel journeying to Yerushalyim to be Oleh Regel.
Nichunyeh’s daughter tumbled into one of the large, water filled pits. Men rushed to notify R’ Chanina Ben Dosa of the terrible tragedy. He calmly informed the horror-stricken group that no harm befell Nichunyeh’s daughter. They verified that this was indeed so.
Overawed, they questioned R’ Chanina, “Are you a prophet?”
He responded, “I’m neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet. I simply knew that it was impossible for Nichunyeh’s child to be punished by means of her father’s special mitzvah.”
“So too,” Rabbi Stein expounded, “those who are involved in aiding prison inmates and their families are shielded from being ensnared in legal issues themselves.”
Thank you, Rabbi Stein, for uplifting the assemblage with your inspiring words.
Dror would also like to thank Yoeli Goldstein & Nechamya Brodt for working tirelessly to ensure that the “Dror Welcomes You Home!” event was the smashing success it was. In addition, Dror is grateful to Shloimy Reichberg for flying in singing sensations Arela Samet and Meir Adler from Israel to delight the attendees with their stirring melodies. A tremendous yasher koach as well to Elimelech Neiman from Goldberg’s Grocery for sponsoring the delicious food and for his constant support of Dror throughout the year.