Encounter at a Traffic Light

Approximately 10 years ago, a young bochur named Shmuel Raskin came to Budapest to assist Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, who was already working there as a Rav of a Shul and shliach in Hungary.

Shmuel was driving in the city when he stopped at a traffic light. Glancing over at the car that had stopped next to him, he realized that the other driver looked Jewish and he honked his horn at him. The other driver looked a little nervous, but when Shmuel signaled to him to roll down his window, he did so. With a big smile, Shmuel asked him if he was Jewish, and they exchanged contact information.

Today, Rabbi Shmuel Raskin is still on shlichus in Budapest, where he heads the local Israeli community. The other driver, David Ben David, is one of the leading supporters of the Chabad community in Budapest. Soon after his first encounter with Rabbi Raskin, he started sending his children to the local Chabad-Ohr Avner kindergarten, which is run by shlucha Batsheva Oberlander.

On erev Shavuos, a double hachnosas sefer Torah took place at the Keren Ohr Chabad House and community center for Israelis in Budapest. David Ben David donated one scroll in the merit of the bar mitzvah of his son Eden Daniel, and his brother Idan Ben David donated the other scroll in honor of his recent wedding, which took place just before Pesach.

The special occasion was celebrated with the traditional hakafos at the shul. The family danced the traditional Georgian dances, while Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, Chief Rabbi of the Chabad community in Budapest, attended the hakafos along with other prominent community members.

After hakafos, a festive meal was held at the Chabad House. The donors blessed everyone present, after which Rabbi Raskin addressed the crowd.

The first readings from the new sifrei Torah took place on Shavuos, and the members of the family were very moved to hear the Aseres Hadibros being read from the scrolls that they donated.