A Father’s Kindness Saved His Family from a Sukkot Tragedy

Rabbi Elimelech Biderman, a beloved Torah teacher known for his inspiring messages, once shared a powerful story that took place in Jerusalem. It teaches us the incredible strength found in the mitzvah of vatranut, being willing to yield or compromise for the sake of peace.

A large family in Jerusalem, blessed with many children, wanted to build a sukkah—a temporary hut used during the holiday of Sukkot, as part of a mitzvah commanded in the Torah. They planned to build it in the courtyard of their apartment building so everyone could fit comfortably inside for meals and celebrations. After hours of hard work, their sukkah stood beautifully in place.

But just as they were finishing, a neighbor knocked on their door. He explained that part of the sukkah extended into his designated parking spot, and he demanded that they take it down and move it elsewhere.

The children were upset and tried to reason with him. “We’ve already put in so much effort,” they pleaded. “Please let us use it just for the eight days of the chag (holiday).” But the neighbor wouldn’t budge. “It’s my spot,” he said firmly. “I don’t agree.”

The boys, frustrated, pointed out that according to halachah (Jewish law), that space actually belonged to all the tenants. “Why can’t he just park somewhere else for the holiday?” they asked. They even quoted sections from the Shulchan Aruch (a major Jewish legal code) to prove their point.

But their father gently stopped them. “We will not sit in a sukkah that causes another Jew distress,” he said calmly. “Even if we’re right according to the law, we’re going to move it. I insist that you take it down and rebuild it somewhere else.”

With no choice, the children took apart their carefully built sukkah and, with patience and effort, rebuilt it in a new location that didn’t interfere with the neighbor’s space.

That night, after the first day of Sukkot, a terrifying sound woke the family in the middle of the night, loud crashes outside near the building. When they ran to look, they were shocked. Three enormous stones had fallen from one of the upper floors right onto the exact spot where their sukkah had originally stood.

The car that was parked in that space was destroyed. Had the family still been sitting in their sukkah, it could have ended in tragedy.

Rabbi Biderman concluded the story with deep emotion. “The father’s choice to go beyond the strict letter of the law, to give in for the sake of peace even when it was difficult, saved his family’s lives. This story was told to me personally by someone directly involved.”

In Judaism, being mevater—choosing to give in, even when you may be right, isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a holy act that draws Hashem’s protection and blessing. And sometimes, as we see in this true story, it can make the difference between danger and salvation.