NOV. 12, ‘25 // notified him that he had also decided to leave yeshiva, claiming that he didn't feel comfortable there any more. At first, David tried to dissuade him from taking such a step, but when he saw that Aaron's mind couldn't be changed, he gave up. "What are your plans?" David asked Aaron. “What do you think?” Aaron winked at him. "To ask my good friend David Weinfeld to find me a job in the Federal Reserve Bank." “I'll do my best, Aaron," David assured him. But finding Aaron a job wasn't easy. At that time, the recession in the United States was at its peak, and there were at least twenty applicants per job, while those who had jobs held on to them with tooth and nail. Aaron, who was growing impatient with waiting, subtly accused David of not trying hard enough. David's promises that he was trying his best were of no avail. "What more can I do?" he would ask Aaron. "No one wants to give up a job during an economic slump." Two months after Aaron had asked David to find him a job, David learned that there was an opening in the bank. Seizing the opportunity, David asked the bank's director to save the job for Aaron. The director, who thought very highly of David, promised that Aaron would be first on line for the job. Two weeks later, David was able to inform Aaron that he had been accepted as a clerk in the Federal Reserve Bank. During his first days at work, Aaron seemed happy, and his overall mood improved. But he didn't like the fact that Albert Silverstein joined him and David at lunch. He wanted to be alone with David during those times. Albert was also annoyed by Aaron's presence at these lunch recesses. He considered breaking up the friendship between the two chavrusas, but he knew better than to issue an ultimatum to David—because he would be the one to lose out. And so the threesome continued their uneasy meetings, with David remaining oblivious to the tension rising between his two different friends. Aaron began work at the bank on the right foot, and his superiors were very pleased with him. He and David also became closer than ever before, continuing their evening study sessions. During that period, David offered Aaron a number of shidduchim, but Aaron managed to find something wrong with each prospect. David was concerned several months later when Aaron seemed to be backsliding. He was missing their daily learning session more often than not, and was even coming late to work. Should he speak to Aaron about it, or let it take its course? David couldn’t decide, so he asked Yitzchok Feld what he thought. "No!" Yitzchak said, with a wave of his hand. "He just has the blues. I felt the same way myself a while ago, but I pulled through. The best thing to do is to leave him alone. It'll pass." 186
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