Page 96 - issue
P. 96
“I love working for O’Fishel; we’re neighbor, who introduced himself in a is just as nice,” says Mr. Bennett. “If
like one little family,” says Michelle. “I strong West Virginian accent, saying, someone is having trouble, like a car
live among Jews, on Park Heights “Hi! I’m Truman. I’m the Shabbos goy!” breaks down, he is the first one to help.
between the Agudah and Bnos Yisroel. If he can’t fix it, he will spend the next
I think that’s what sets me apart from A wounded Vietnam army veteran, three days figuring it out. One Simchas
other gentiles. Since I have one foot in Truman has been going above and Torah, he was in our shul trying to fix a
your community, I kind of get it, and I beyond the call of Shabbos and Yom plumbing problem. He is just happy to
wish people were a little more tolerant Tov duty for 38 years! His “territory” help. It is almost what he lives for.” Mrs.
of everyone in every situation. encompasses Shelburne and several Bennett recalls the time it snowed and
surrounding blocks “I reckon the Truman was out of town: “He called to
“I am a cerebral person; I asked a lot strangest thing I did was to change the offer us the use of his snow blower!”
of questions from the beginning,” con- batteries in a hearing aid,” says Truman,
tinues Michelle, who learned about the “I also plugged in a heater in some- “When I grew up in West Virginia,
particulars of kashrus, Shabbos, as well one’s succah.” the only Jewish people I knew there
as the appropriate Hebrew lingo and were slumlords,” admits Truman. “I did-
pronunciation on the job. “From day The more usual tasks are helping n’t like Jewish people because I didn’t
one, it’s been mutual respect with me out with stoves, refrigerators, slow know what they are all about. But when
and everyone I’ve worked with. cookers, and air conditioning. I came up to Baltimore to work for my
Everybody shows me appreciation, but “Sometimes I switch on a machine for cousin, I got tied up with his friend who
it was especially touching to read the a child who has a breathing problem,” is a psychiatrist, and he and a few other
letter full of praise that was in the adds Truman. “My wife helps out when Jewish families are the ones who
Where What When. A customer took I am out of town.” Of course, Truman helped me change my views of Jewish
the time to sit down and write it.” wishes his neighbors a “Good people. They accepted me as a person
Shabbos!” And, as soon as Pesach is and not as a goy. I tell my friends back
Just Like West Virginia over, he very thoughtfully puts a cooler in West Virginia that I’ve been more to
When Michael and Sharon Bennett filled with beer on his front porch, so synagogues than churches!
moved into their house on Shelburne they can help themselves to their first
Avenue, 21 years ago, one of the first taste of chametz. Truman is so close with some of his
people they met was their next-door friends that they have entrusted him
“Truman has a lot of compassion with the keys to their houses. “The
and cares about people. His wife Nancy
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
like one little family,” says Michelle. “I strong West Virginian accent, saying, someone is having trouble, like a car
live among Jews, on Park Heights “Hi! I’m Truman. I’m the Shabbos goy!” breaks down, he is the first one to help.
between the Agudah and Bnos Yisroel. If he can’t fix it, he will spend the next
I think that’s what sets me apart from A wounded Vietnam army veteran, three days figuring it out. One Simchas
other gentiles. Since I have one foot in Truman has been going above and Torah, he was in our shul trying to fix a
your community, I kind of get it, and I beyond the call of Shabbos and Yom plumbing problem. He is just happy to
wish people were a little more tolerant Tov duty for 38 years! His “territory” help. It is almost what he lives for.” Mrs.
of everyone in every situation. encompasses Shelburne and several Bennett recalls the time it snowed and
surrounding blocks “I reckon the Truman was out of town: “He called to
“I am a cerebral person; I asked a lot strangest thing I did was to change the offer us the use of his snow blower!”
of questions from the beginning,” con- batteries in a hearing aid,” says Truman,
tinues Michelle, who learned about the “I also plugged in a heater in some- “When I grew up in West Virginia,
particulars of kashrus, Shabbos, as well one’s succah.” the only Jewish people I knew there
as the appropriate Hebrew lingo and were slumlords,” admits Truman. “I did-
pronunciation on the job. “From day The more usual tasks are helping n’t like Jewish people because I didn’t
one, it’s been mutual respect with me out with stoves, refrigerators, slow know what they are all about. But when
and everyone I’ve worked with. cookers, and air conditioning. I came up to Baltimore to work for my
Everybody shows me appreciation, but “Sometimes I switch on a machine for cousin, I got tied up with his friend who
it was especially touching to read the a child who has a breathing problem,” is a psychiatrist, and he and a few other
letter full of praise that was in the adds Truman. “My wife helps out when Jewish families are the ones who
Where What When. A customer took I am out of town.” Of course, Truman helped me change my views of Jewish
the time to sit down and write it.” wishes his neighbors a “Good people. They accepted me as a person
Shabbos!” And, as soon as Pesach is and not as a goy. I tell my friends back
Just Like West Virginia over, he very thoughtfully puts a cooler in West Virginia that I’ve been more to
When Michael and Sharon Bennett filled with beer on his front porch, so synagogues than churches!
moved into their house on Shelburne they can help themselves to their first
Avenue, 21 years ago, one of the first taste of chametz. Truman is so close with some of his
people they met was their next-door friends that they have entrusted him
“Truman has a lot of compassion with the keys to their houses. “The
and cares about people. His wife Nancy
88 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
