When Rabbi Hillel Piekarski, the shliach to the Pletzel in Paris, met a Jew 12 years ago who refused to put on tefillin, neither of them knew they were beginning a connection that would circle back many years later.

By Anash.org reporter

About 12–13 years ago, Rabbi Hillel Piekarski, the shliach to the Pletzel in Paris, France, who spends many hours every day in the neighborhood meeting Jews from around the world and helping them put on tefillin, bumped into a man who starting a connection that neither of them knew would circle back many years later.

He was standing in the Pletzel when he met a man named Mr. Kaplan from Wisconsin, USA. “He was a beautiful guy, a lovely guy,” Rabbi Piekarski recalls. “We met, we spoke, but when it came to the question, do you want to put on tefillin, he said, ‘No, no, I’m not religious. You’re a good guy, I’m a good guy, but no tefillin.’”

They agreed to disagree. For some reason, though, they decided to exchange emails. As it turned out, that small gesture developed into a connection. Every so often they would exchange messages, speaking about life, checking in before Chanukah, Pesach and the yomim tovim and having friendly conversations.

Mr. Kaplan was one of those Americans who visited Paris every year, so they also occasionally met in person. Each time, they would connect warmly, but tefillin was never part of the conversation. Rabbi Pikarski already knew the answer would be no.

Then, about 10 years after their first encounter, Rabbi Pikarski was in the Pletzel wrapping tefillin as usual when he suddenly bumped into Mr. Kaplan. This time, Mr. Kaplan walked over and said, “I’m ready.”

“I said, ‘You’re ready for what?’ He said, ‘I’m ready to put on tefillin.’ I was shocked. He was coming to me to put on tefillin on his own initiative. I didn’t even ask him.”

Even his wife, who was with him at the time, was surprised. But there he was, putting on tefillin. “Rabbi,” he told him, “you’ve been sending all these emails, you’re such a warm guy – I have to do it with you.”

The last time Mr. Kaplan had put on tefillin was nearly seventy years earlier –  in 5716 (1954). Later, he also sent Rabbi Piekarski a moving and heartfelt email about it.

Fast forward about three years. Just a few days ago, Rabbi Piekarski received a video call in the middle of the afternoon. At first, he didn’t recognize the number and ignored it. Soon after, a message came in: “Someone from Wisconsin knows you, please answer the phone.”

He picked up – and to his surprise, there on the screen was Mr. Kaplan, sitting next to two bochurim. He couldn’t believe it. The two yeshiva students were in Wisconsin doing Merkos shlichus, visiting local Jews, and had bumped into Mr. Kaplan. During their visit, he told them that his wife had recently passed away.

They had an amazing 10–20 minute conversation, reminiscing and sharing memories. Then, Rabbi Piekarski decided to take a chance. “Listen to me, Mr. Kaplan,” he said. “I think you need to put on tefillin. I know you don’t usually do it – only once in 50 years – but for your wife, you have to. It’s a big mitzvah for her.”

Mr. Kaplan agreed immediately. “You’re 100% right, Rabbi. We’re going to do it.”

And indeed, right then and there, he put on tefillin with the two young bochurim, who even sent Rabbi Pikarski a picture.

“It’s amazing,” Rabbi Pikarski reflects. “You see how things come full circle. From bumping into him 12 years ago in the Pletzel, Hashem brings everything together into one picture. This is the Jewish people”

LISTEN: