Inspired at the Seder
From the Memoirs of Rav Moshe Fhima
Here in Pinsk we take the words of the Haggada literally, as it is stated “all who need, come and eat”. The Yad Yisroel organization of Pinsk, takes the initiative, and for the Yom Tov of Pesach, sends out invitations all over the country inviting our Jewish brethren who unfortunately aren’t affiliated during the year, to come and spend Pesach with us.
One of our guests was Yasha, a 17 year old boy from Vitebsk, who has never been to a Shul, and had no idea what a kosher Pesach meant. We set him up to lodge with our yeshiva boys for the duration of the Yom Tov. During the first night of Pesach, by Maariv, Yasha could be seen just sitting there with a confused and insecure look on his face.
Eli, one of our yeshiva bachurim, took the initiative and approached Yasha. They sat together throughout the Seder, and Eli explained to Yasha what the significance and meaning for all the minhagim and mitzvoth of the night. At the closing of the Seder, Yasha asked Eli to explain to him the how's of davening. In the early hours of dawn, Eli patiently started to explain to Yasha the structure of the davening.
For the next few days Eli and Yasha could be found for hours at a time sitting in the Bais Medrish together. On Shmini Shel Pesach, Yasha, made a decision that he wants to try and start davening in Lashon Hakodesh. “Please, Eli,” he would say, “teach me how to say the Shemona Esrai, not the Russian translation, but in Hebrew”. That night, while lying in bed, Yasha’s roommates fell asleep hearing the words “Hashem Sifasai Tiftach Ufi Yagid Tihilasecha” being said over and over and over.
Yasha left Pinsk much inspired and we were waiting to see how Pesach would affect him. 24 hours did not pass until Yasha called with 3 requests:-
1) When is a Moihel coming next to Belarus?
2) How can one keep Kashrus at home?
3) Even though I have received a free scholarship to the Leningrads University to further my studies I would like to find a place where I could study Torah.