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ד"סב

Narratives
true Authentic, Realistic & Undeniable
Inspirations challenge: the
and Real-Life Concerning our Volume
generation’s
battle against
technology 167

It’s a phrase confident manner. It moved in quickly, almost unexpectedly,
that often turning the smooth roads into a treacherous trap. Hail and
Get With the Program! used when snow pelted the wagon-driver and his precious cargo.
discussing “Not again!” he yelled, when the axle of a wheel broke off
technology for the umpteenth time. “I’ll never make it back on time!”
and its conve- He tried. He really did.
niences. For several days it seemed that he would succeed despite
“You’re still punching the buttons of that outdated flip- the odds, but a sudden snowstorm kept him stranded in a tiny
phone? Come on, get with the program!” little village, a week’s distance from home.
“What do you mean, your business doesn’t have a website? By the time Velvel clip-clopped through the city streets to-
Get with the program!” ward R’ Moshe’s home, the fair had come and gone.
“You’re kidding! That’s how much you paid?! The online “Look what the wind blew in!” R’ Moshe exclaimed, trying
prices are a fraction of that! Why don’t you get with the pro- to contain his mounting fury. “You know how much money I
gram?!”
lost?! Now I’m stuck with a wagonload of wine and not a sin-
gle customer in a five-mile radius!”
This phrase would have served Velvel the wagon-driver Velvel shrugged. “My fee, please.”
quite well, had it been coined a few centuries ago. He had R’ Moshe laughed. “A deal’s a deal, my friend. You came
been hired by R’ Moshe, a wealthy wine merchant, to deliver late. I don’t owe you a single kopek!”
several barrels of wine.
“It’s the end of Tishrei,” R’ Moshe told him. “You’ll travel Velvel didn’t accept his matter-of-fact refusal. He called
immediately to the vineyards, show the proprietors this sales the wine merchant to Beis Din, but was disappointed when
slip, and pick up the barrels of wine that I’ve already paid for.” the dayanim ruled that since the condition had been clearly
“Sure, no problem,” was Velvel’s enthusiastic reply. “Sim- stated in advance, R’ Moshe was in the right.
ple enough.” “But – but – it can’t be!” Velvel exclaimed. “Look here. This
“I need to sell that wine at the city fair, that’s set to take ruling is based on halacha, right? And the halachos are all
place in Kislev,” the merchant cautioned. “Make sure you’re written in the Torah, right?” Velvel took a deep breath and
here on time. If you’re late, I won’t pay you a penny! You hear, then smugly delivered the punchline. “Well, the Torah was
Velvel? The wine must be here before the fair begins!” given in Sivan, when the weather’s nice and sunny. There
“Yeah, yeah,” the wagon-driver harrumphed. “No prob- were no snowstorms and broken wheels and stranded wag-
lem.” on-drivers then! Had the Torah been given in the winter, I
He set out immediately, and reached the vineyards in re- would surely have been in the right!”
cord time. Velvel was puffed up with pride as he urged the His claim is ridiculous.
horses on their way back to town. The Torah doesn’t change to suit the weather.
“Velvel is reliable,” he chanted happily. “Velvel is so smart Nor does it change to fit the technological realities of a diz-
and quick. Velvel is every merchant’s first pick!” zying digital revolution.
But the approaching winter wasn’t impressed with Velvel’s Just ask Velvel...

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