From The Real Shlomo by Rabbi Chaim Dalfin page 1 All credit goes to the Circus Tent and Rabbi Chaim Dalfin

What did Shlomo do on his Last Day on Earth?It was an ordinary Brooklyn fall day, Thursday, October 20, 1994 when Rabbi Yosef Wineberg

1

,left his office at 1310 48

th

 Street to buy some lunch. He walked a block away to Weiss’sluncheonette near the corner of 47

th

 Street and 13

th

 Avenue. The owner, Meir Weiss, aHungarian Jew, made “

heimish essen

,” home-style Hungarian tasting food, which spoke to thehearts, minds and bellies of many people in Borough Park.The community had a large population of Orthodox Chasidic Jews from Hungary. In those daysyou could still hear two older women speaking Hungarian between themselves as you passedthem in the street.Weiss’s was a popular eatery in the community because Meir was friendly, spoke the commonlanguage and understood the mentality. Yossel came into the store and waited on line to orderhis lunch. There were about ten others on line in this cramped little “mom and pop” shop.When Yossel got his lunch and was ready to pay Meir, Shlomo walked into the eatery. Bothwere near one another on line and Shlomo turned to Yossel in his usual warm manner saying,“Friend, how are you?” He also mentioned that he had just come from Manhattan and was onhis way to the airport.Shlomo stretched out his hand to Yossel, greeting him in the traditional Jewish manner with

 shalom

, peace.Yossel pulled back his hand and did not give it to Shlomo. He said that he was not his friend.People in the store heard this, became nervous, but remained silent.Shlomo was taken aback and asked Yossel why he did not give him his hand.Yossel enquired of Shlomo if he really wanted to know.Shlomo thoughtfully stopped for a moment and then replied that he wished to know.Yossel retorted, “You make so many

Baalei Teshuva

, help so many non-Orthodox Jews becomeOrthodox, but one

Baal 

Teshuva

 you have not made (a hint to Shlomo),why?”Shlomo lifted his head and eyes, becoming lost in thought. After a minute, he said “You areright.”Yossel then took the opportunity to push his point further. He quoted part of a verse from theProphet Isaiah

2

, “

Ein shalom amar Elokei 

…” (“There is no peace, says G-d for the…”)

1

 He is a grandson of the Slonomer Rebbe of Jerusalem. He is a Torah scholar and a good friend.

2

 57:21.