The Shavuahthon - Shavuot 5786

The first time I lived on my own, my toilet broke. I called a plumber. He drove across town, walked into the bathroom, reached into the tank, reattached a small rubber stopper, and handed me a bill for $250. The part costs $5 at the hardware store. The fix takes ninety seconds once you know what you're looking at. I now know what I’m looking at.My Grandpa Harry would have been aghast. Almost every clear memory I have of him begins with the phrase, “let me get my glasses …” followed by an enduring solution. He hemmed all his own pants, built the dining room table now living with us, and resuscitated the toys I broke playing too enthusiastically. I cherished watching him in those moments, not a little awestruck. Every action was filled with love and devotion. Unfortunately, I can’t recall a time he said, “Adam, today I will show you how to sew on a button,” but that’s another essay.