Then there was the time when the interviewer asked me what a certain Ramban was saying. When I told her that I had no idea, she asked me what a different Ramban was saying, and again I didn’t know. After about seven or eight repeats of this, one of the Rabbis walked in. I turned to the Rabbi and said “Just what we needed. Mrs. Interviewer really wants to know what the Ramban is saying and I haven’t the foggiest idea. Maybe you can help her.” She got this look on her face so I assumed she was embarrassed that she didn’t know the Rambans. So I said to her “Don’t worry about the fact that you can’t read a Ramban; I can’t either and I’m getting along just fine. And anyway I’m sure you have other good qualities. Like maybe you’re a good cook or something.” At that point she jumped up and shouted “I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW…” but I cut her off and said “there you go – you have a dramatic flair. Maybe you can join the Drama Club. I hear it’s good for shidduchim.” She then said “Young lady, I am married.” To which I responded “Really? Even though you couldn’t read a Ramban?”
At this point she was steaming (I’m not quite sure why; maybe the previous interviewee got her into a bad mood). She said “You insolent impertinent twerp! I have not seen such audacity in all my years of conducting interviews!”
I was starting to get a little uncomfortable. I was not really used to having a middle aged woman yelling at me for no apparent reason. So I said “maybe we should sing a song together. It’s really good for calming down.” (The Rabbi had already walked out so there was no kol isha issue.) Guess what? She slapped me. Right across the face. But I kept my cool and said “thank you for your time” and walked out.