Grew up in NY and have lived in London since I’ve B’H married. I greet every single person on Shabbos or Yom Tov, so much so that I even wish them a gut, gebenched Chodesh when it is Shabbos Mevarchim. Most people answer in the affirmative, some just nod, some don’t speak.
In our shul, every newcomer is greeted and asked if they are a guest or have they moved into the area. They are also invited for meals, even on the spur of the moment.
There is a wonderful Rebbetzin who lives on our street which consists of 6 short blocks. Every year she puts an invite written in poetic style, through the letterbox to invite all the yiddishe neighbors from all six blocks, to “meet & greet the neighbors” on a Shabbos afternoon for a welcoming tea/coffee. She puts on a big spread of the most beautiful, delicios, homemade cakes, cookies, fruit platters, bridge rolls etc., when all the ladies come. She gives a short dvar Torah and everyone feels welcomed. Everyone looks forward to this each year.
This is a true story that happened in our wonderful shul. A man came from Israel to London for business and stayed locally in a small hotel. He had yahrzeit for one of his late parents’ and he came to say kaddish for mincha and maariv, in one of the 6 shuls (bli ayin harah!), in the 6 block street. After davening, the Rav shlita asked everyone to stay behind for 10 minutes to say Tehillim for our brethen in Israel, who were under attack during the Intefada. All the men and boys stayed behind and said Tehillim bekol rom fervently. The man also stayed and said Tehillim. The man returned to Israel and was most impressed. He was not religious, but he had taken upon himself to say kaddish for his belated parents. He was in a shop in Bnei Brak and made photo copies. He heard an english accent from the owner and asked him, “where do you come from?” and the owner answered, “Golders Green”. This man told him I was just in Golders Green and went to a local shul to say kaddish. I was most impressed that the whole shul stayed behind at the request of the Rav, to say Tehillim for the situation in Israel. The shul was packed and no one left and they davened with such kavana. I took it upon myself when I returned to Israel, that from then onwards I would put on Tefillin everyday and daven. If the people in chutz le eretz can do so much for the people of Eretz Yisrael, in our time of need, I am can start to daven with tefillin every day. The owner asked him which shul it was and he told him. The owner of the shop smiled broadly. The man asked if he knew the shul and and the wonderful Rav. The owner said to him, “Yes, I know the shul very well and have davened there often. The Rav is my brother in law!”
The Rav was told about this man by his brother in law, and how saying Tehillim had changed a man’s life for the better, without anyone knowing about it, or doing anything for him. Kal ve chomer, how much more so, if we make the effort to help or greet someone in our midst.
Yes, it is Chodesh Elul and we all must strive to make an effort to become better in our ways each and every day, in all our dealings in our personal and business lives. It does not cost you anything to smile and greet someone warmly and to be kind to all people. We are the chosen people and we should be making a Kiddush Ha-Shem every second of our lives. And, yes it is menchlach to notice when someone is new in shul, or a guest, no matter what his religious affiliation is. We can invite them for a meal and to bring something in to a new neighbor. Another idea is to make a list with addresses and phone #s of all the heimishe shops and other local supermarkets and info i.e. hatzalah, shomrim, for them to have.
May we all be zocher to have a kesiva ve chasima tova and may H’KBH bless us that all our tefillot be answered le tova be karov Amen!