It was that time of year again. Twelfth graders around the world found themselves fluctuating between nerves and excitement, teachers tried to reassure classes to no avail, and parents were unable to sleep as they pondered the fact that their little girls were growing up. That’s right: It was seminary application time.
Sora Mindy Cynamon knew where she wanted to go, and was ready for the interview.
Sora Mindy was born blind, but she has spent her entire life rising to the challenge. She learned Braille, made friends, attended school and, overall, was a regular 18-year-old.
Her leading choice of seminary was Meohr Bais Yaakov, led by Rav Zecharya Greenwald.
Knowing that Rav Greenwald gave out a printed sheet with a pasuk and mefarshim to each applicant and asked her to explain it, Sora Mindy brought along a Braille sheet that she had prepared from class. She also made sure to bring along her Braille Chumash for The Big Day.
When it came time for her to read the Braille sheet of mefarshim she had prepared, Rav Greenwald cleared his throat. “I’m not sure it’s fair for you to read a meforash you already learned, while the other girls had to read a new, unfamiliar one,” he said thoughtfully. “Please open your Chumash to a random page and read the pasuk with Rashi and the Sifsei Chachamim.”
Sora Mindy readily agreed, and opened her Chumash to a random pasuk.
Using her fingers, she started to read the pasuk out loud. It was a pasuk in Shemos, discussing Dasan and Aviram. “Return to Mitzrayim,” she translated, “for all the men who sought your life are dead.” She moved her fingers, ready to read the Rashi followed by the Sifsei Chachamim. Rabbi Greenwald knew what was about to happen. Rashi explains “dead” as “they became poor, because someone who is poor is considered like one who is dead.” The Sifsei Chachamim then quotes a Gemara that says that four people are considered like one who is dead: a poor person, a blind person, a childless person and someone afflicted with tzara’as.
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