not really a rabbi story, but an inspiring story so its worth posting. (I realize that there are some parts that dont sound very realistic, but this is the way I heard it.)
I heard this several years ago from Rabbi Jung. I heard this as a true story that took place in Israel.
For years, the A family and the B family were fighting. It was not the “first generation” fighting anymore, and the families no longer remembered what the original fight was about. None of them wanted to break the chain that their fathers had started so for years they didnt have any connection. One day, the the daughter of the B family got engaged. They set the wedding for some time in March, in a popular wedding hall. Some time during the engagement period, Mr. B met Mr. A in shul and just “stam” decided to approach him and try and make up after so many years. “Mr. A, you know, its been so long since the fight, and I dont remember what it was about even, why are we still ignoring each other?”
“True, I too, dont remember what the argument was about, there is no reason to continue this machlokes unnecessarily.”
They made up and all was happy, but Mr. B wanted to take it a step further.
“My daughter is getting married in the middle of March in ____ Hall, we would love to have you and your family join us.”
“I’d love to come, but I’m having a procedure done that same week, and I’ve been waiting months and months to do it, I couldn’t possibly forfeit my chance for a wedding, no matter how important.”
Mr. B, determined to have the Mr. A, join him at the wedding, went to work out a few details, and the next time they met, he greeted Mr. B with news.
“The wedding date was not final, I asked my daughter and we asked the other side, and they are willing to push up the date to the beginning of March, but now the wedding will be out of town. It is so important to us that you join, now will you come?”
The wedding took place as planned, with Mr. A in attendance.
On the original date the wedding was planned, in that same hall, the ceiling caved in, with much damage resulting and a ruined wedding. This is the power of shalom.