Chassidishe Story: Driving Through Mea Shearim on Shabbos

The Chosid repeated, “How would you like to come to my house for a Shabbos meal? I would LOVE to have you at my house for a Shabbos meal.”

Kindness Will Work Better

A number of years ago there was a young rebel who decided to go speeding through the streets of Mea Shearim on a Shabbos afternoon with his radio at full volume. As you could imagine, the indignant shouts of “Shabbos, Shabbos!” could be heard block in and block out. The indentations on the car from the stones hurled by angry Chassidim had already become evident after a few blocks.

But at the end of a long street, up which this driver was heading, stood a Chosid. Bedecked in shtreimel, bekishe, and full Shabbos regalia, he stood firmly and resolutely in the middle of the street with his hand straight out. The driver had no choice but to stop. The Chosid let down his arm, and walked to the driver’s side of the car. “How would you like to come to my house for a Shabbos meal?” he asked warmly with a bright smile on his face.

“How would I like to what???” asked the driver.

The Chosid repeated, “How would you like to come to my house for a Shabbos meal? I would LOVE to have you at my house for a Shabbos meal.”

The driver was dumbfounded! What happened to all of the yelling? What happened to all
of the hateful stares? He literally didn't know how to react. The Chosid continued, “Perhaps you’ve never celebrated a Shabbos in full form. I want to show you what it's like. I would really love to have you over next week.” After a few more minutes of convincing, the driver really didn’t know what else to do but accept. He took the address, managed to find a yarmulke the next week, and actually made it to the chosid's house for Shabbos. The rebel had no idea that one day he would become shomer
Shabbos.

(Source: Shabbos Ta'am HaChaim by Rabbi Binyomin Adler)