A “Simon Blum” Test
I don’t think any of us will ever know Simon Blum’s identity, but I, for one, have no doubt that he came to our neighborhood to test us...I hope we passed the test.
I don’t think any of us will ever know Simon Blum’s identity, but I, for one, have no doubt that he came to our neighborhood to test us…I hope we passed the test.
Simon Blum* first appeared in our neighborhood about twenty five years ago. A middle-age gentlemen, he always carried a briefcase and looked like an old fashioned family doctor on his way to treat a patient. According to rumor, he lost his entire family in Auschwitz. Those in the know claim that that was when he lost his sanity. He was the neighborhood “meshugah” (crazy person).
Simon Blum’s days revolved around the neighborhood synagogue, the neighborhood grocery stores, and the pay telephone. In synagogue, he forced men to concentrate deeply on their prayers and he tried the patience of the local shop owners. Whenever I saw him entering the store, I rushed to finish my purchase so I wouldn’t end up waiting for him to slowly count his pennies as he paid for his bill.
Simon Blum had no home, so kindhearted people in the neighborhood took turns hosting him. He never lacked invitations for Shabbat. He was an integral part of our community. No one really thought about him, he just was.
Last Thursday, Simon Blum was run over by a car in front of the neighborhood grocery store. He was killed instantaneously.
That same night, several kind-hearted individuals in the community organized a funeral. The synagogue was packed with neighbors who had come to give their last respects to a man they never really knew. Hundreds of people accompanied Simon Blum on his last journey.
It’s impossible to understand Heavenly calculations. Simon Blum was – and still is – a mystery. No one really knows who he was, or why he decided to make our community his home. We will never know what great deed Simon Blum did to merit such a large and respectable funeral. We will never understand his tragic death, or, for that matter, his tragic life.
Our heritage is replete with stories of Eliyahu Hanavi, Elijah the prophet, being sent to this world to test the Jewish people. I don’t think any of us will ever know Simon Blum’s identity, but I, for one, have no doubt that he came to our neighborhood to test us, to see how we would take care of him. I hope we passed the test.
A note from the author – I was recently informed that over a thousand people attended Simon Blum’s funeral – although it took place after midnight. Almost every one of the people there approached to coffin to beg Simon Blum’s forgiveness for not according him the honor due to him during his lifetime.
*a pseudonym
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