Editor’s Note: The previous two installments of this story appeared in the Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 issues of Diverse City and detailed Khava’s discovery that she possesses special powers that allow her to move objects without touching them, as well as being sent to the principal’s office for her failed attempt to use her powers in class.
Let me be there already. And I opened my eyes after blinking and was in front of the office. I was getting the hang of it, diary, I really was.
“Khava Bloom, what did you do now?” Shayna at the office asked me.
“I don’t really know this time.”
Shayna gave me a look.
“Sure you don’t. We know. We’ve got memos now. The Morahs- they send them- quick like that, through the phones. You’ll see. Go in. Reb Yissy will be in in a few minutes. You’ll sit in his chair- not his chair, the guest chair. You know it. Be quiet, there, though. I think he’s on a phone khevrusa.”
I sat in the guest chair, my feet dangling and looked around his office. It was so beautiful looking. I loved coming in there diary, if not to talk with Reb Yissy, just to look at the way his sforim, the way his books glowed. They never gathered dust, diary. He used them that often and I feel like- I don’t know- can people shine books? You know, the way they shine silver or shoes?
And his pictures. He had wonderful pictures all over his office. Him with important people from the community, from other communities. Even non-Jewish communities. I realized just then- that it was a good thing I was sent to Reb Yissy’s that day. He might just understand.
“Khavele, khavele, khavele,” he came in singing. He looked at me standing by his chair and I felt like I had to look away. He laughed. “What? You want I am supposed to call you ‘this Eve’ even now when you sit in my office because of it?”
I’ll be honest, diary. I didn’t really understand the question.
“Khavele, what are you doing here today?”
“Reb Yissy-“
“Khavele.”
I should have known that Reb Yissy didn’t really want to hear my answers.
“You know what I just read when walking in here? A memo. You know what this is a memo? It’s a note to me, from your Morah about you. Khave, you are going to graduate soon. Your Morah told me you’re wanting to start dancing in the class. Just now- like that in the memo she told me. Khavele, this is why we have the dance class. The DANCE class! I put in a dance class in this yeshiva, Khavele! Me! And this is what you do to me? To ask to dance in the middle of a Torah lesson?”
“But-“
“And so, I’m really –mamesh, really- at a loss of words this time, Khavele. Because your Morah- she is very fed up with you, you should know. She’s really had it up to here and there. And she doesn’t have it out for you, Khave, you know, it seems to be you who has it out for her, eh? You know what I mean, Khave. You know. You’ve got to change your act, as they say. They say that don’t they, in your books?”
I didn’t respond, diary.
“You can answer now, Khave.”
“Reb Yissy, something very strange is happening to me.”
“This I know.”
“Reb Yissy, I’m sorry I misbehaved in class today. And I’ll apologize to Morah later I promise. But Reb Yissy- I have something very important to share with you.”
He sat down now in his chair and looked at me with his eyebrows raised.
“Well, do you want me to tell you or, well, show you?” I asked him. I figured I’d give the choice, you know, diary.
“Just tell me, Khavele.”
“Reb Yissy, I was reading in one of my brother’s sforim-“
“Khavele, those books are your brother’s books! Not for girls!”
“I know but sometimes I learn with my Tati and well, I was learning about the times of the Moshiakh, Reb Yissy. Let them be soon.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, and Reb Yissy, in reading all this about the Messiah- I read some meforshim (commentators, diary) who thought the Moshiakh would have special powers.”
“It’s true. It’s all true. What does this have to do with you, Khave?”
“Reb Yissy, I think I’m the Moshiakh.”
He coughed out loud so loud that Shayna from the office came in frantic. Once he shooed her away and convinced her that everything was under control, she left, cautiously, looking back at me.
“Khavele, tayere, darling, sweetheart…”
“Rebbe, I know what you’re thinking. So, look.”
I looked at his shelf and found the very same sefer I had studied with my father a week ago, a book on the times of the Messiah, and like that- with my eyes I took it off the shelf and opened it flatly in front of the Rebbe. He rubbed his eyes. I did it again just to make sure he knew he wasn’t dreaming. The book went back to its shelf, then back to the table.
“And not just moving things, Reb Yissy. I can tell people what to say. I can tell them where to go. I can control things. Shayna will come in and tell you she quits.
Shayna stormed it. “I quit, Reb Yissy!”
The Rebbe looked at her stunned.
“No you don’t,” I said to her. “Ask him if he’s thirsty.”
“Rebbe, sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to know if you wanted a something to drink.”
Reb Yissy looked at Shayna in awe. He waved his hands away, trying not to call attention to his jaw which remained dropped. Suddenly, he started searching through the sefer I placed in front of him. He was worried, diary, I could tell. But still, I felt confident in choosing to confide in him.
“Reb Yissy, it isn’t so irrational when you think about it. I always knew I was sort of different, you know. You knew it too, even, no, Rebbe? Well, I was thinking. I was thinking my dad’s name is Dovid. It’s David, Rebbe.”
The Rebbe nodded his head.
“Well, you know how the Moshiakh is supposed to come from the King David’s house? His line, as they say? And you know how it’s supposed to be Moshiakh ben Dovid, Messiah the son of David? Well, I was thinking-“
“Khave,” he said with his eyes closed.
“That maybe it was supposed to be bas Dovid! Maybe it was supposed to be daughter of David and not son!”
“Khave.”
“But Rebbe-“
“I know. This. This is peculiar. Khave-“
“It all makes sense, Rebbe. I’m supposed to be the one to do it. I’m supposed to lead the Jewish people to Eretz Yisroel, to the Land of Israel. And not just the Jews, Rebbe, everyone- all people- from all over the world. Everyone will finally be able to love each other. Peace, Rebbe, sholem will be actualized. Through me- Khave Evee Bloom- a girl!”
The Rebbe looked at me long and hard. He reached for the phone but I quickly pulled it away.
“What are you doing, Reb Yissy?”
“Khave, you mustn’t control people. Let me go to the phone.”
“Who do you want to call, Rebbe?”
“You are sick, my child. I’m calling to you one of the healers. A special healer. And she will make you better.”
“Better? No, Reb Yissy. I’m fine. I am better. I like the way I am. I came to tell you. Maybe you’d help me- help me gather the Jews, Rebbe. Don’t you want to live in the times of the Moshiakh?”
But he was already lifting up the receiver and like that I had him drop it.
“Rebbe, forget what just happened. Send me back to Morah’s class, giving me one last warning and a lollipop, a purple one.” I said each word, with more sadness in my voice.
“Khavele Bloom, last warning, alright, young lady? Here, I forgive you. Morah will too. Take this lollipop back to class. Don’t show her I showed you. I know you’re not too old for sweets. You’ll be a good graduate girl, Khavele Bloom. Listen to Morah.”
Reb Yissy handed me a sweet and I smiled and walked back to class. Oh, diary. It was such a day. But it was then that I realized. Reb Yissy was not the right person. No, it wasn’t he, diary, who needed to know first. And then it came to me in a flash.
If Reb Yissy, the principal of my yeshiva, didn’t want to hear of it then maybe some of the other people, the important people from his pictures, would. There was one of the mayor there- the mayor of Manhattan. And another with the police commissioner. And all the various Roshei Yeshiva, the heads of the religious schools in the area. There was one even with a priest from a nearby church. A priest!
So, I knew where to go, diary. To them. Someone, one of them, any of them, would have to believe me. So, I’m going to do it. I’m finally here, diary, and it’s time they took me seriously.
