“The Charm Bracelet” A Mort Laitner Short Story
As I stepped out of my SUV, I scanned the hot surface of the empty mall parking lot.
A twinkle or was it a sparkle caught my eye.
It looked like a small dime.
I walked toward it, bent down and picked it up.
It wasn’t a coin.
But a charm attached to a torn, red braided, leather bracelet with two coiled silver fasteners and a clasp.
Hooked into the clasp was a round silver charm containing Hebrew letters.
The eight carved letters housed in a circle, touched one another as they clung to the circle’s edge.
Sunlight cut through the charm’s openings and reflected on my finger.
I studied the letters with my rudimentary knowledge of Hebrew.
My brain untangled them.
I read two words, “Shema Yisrael.“
Unconsciously, my lips mouthed the first sentence of the Shema.
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our G-d, the Lord is one.”
I multitude of questions ran across my mind:
“What’s the history of this child’s string bracelet?”
“Why did this item of jewelry carry only one memory?”
“Was this child reminded of the presence of the Almighty when she wore this bracelet?”
“Did the giver of the bracelet think the Shema would protect the child by warding off evil spirits, bad luck or the evil eye?”
“For how long it had touched the ground?”
“Since this is a religious object, am I obligated to pick it up—give it a new home?”
I heard the little girl crying, “Mommy, I lost my Shema bracelet!”
“Mommy, we’ve got to go back to the mall and look for it.
“It brought me good luck!”
“Honey, don’t cry. It wasn’t expensive. I’ll buy you another one.”
As I placed the charm in my pocket, I wondered, “Was this child’s loss—my gain or had the Almighty sent me a message?”
“What were the odds that I get out of my truck and find a charm with the Shema carved into it?”
“About a million to one.”
“Well, in South Florida maybe a half million to one.”
Here were the words I prayed as I put on tefillin.
Words bound to my arm and head.
In temple,I prayed those words when I remembered my parents and grandparents.
I prayed those words before surgeries and during times of crisis.
Here were the words my hand kissed when I touched a mezuzah.
Here were the words Jews recited when death reaches their doorstep.
As the rescuer of this sacred charm, I tasked myself with properly housing it and interpreting its role in my life.
At first. for safekeeping. I placed it in the top draw of my writing desk.
The charm kept the evil eye off of my written words.
For a year, the charm recuperated from it’s tortuous time in that steamy parking lot.
Then I bought my granddaughter a bracelet and added the Shema charm to it.
“Honey, here’s the story about how I found the charm and where it’s been for over a year.”
She asked, “If I accept this gift, does it come with any responsibilities?
“Yes, my little one, with a life time of responsibilities.” I replied.
Then holding the charm in her small hands, I taught her the meaning of the Shema.
I taught her how an Israeli soldier said the Shema as he jumped on an enemy’s grenade to save the lives of his troops.
I taught her how millions of Jews prayed the Shema as the gas spread in the death chambers of the camps.
I taught her how I prayed the Shema on contemplative moments as well as times of joy and sorrow.
I taught her how we are commanded to love G-d with all of our heart, soul and might.
I taught her how we like the charm’s Hebrew letters—touch one another with love while we live on the edge of our own planet.
And how our people would be lost, just as the bracelet was in that empty hot parking lot, if we didn’t have the Shema to comfort and guide us.
What the readers are saying:
Published in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel— Jewish Journal
Nice story, I looked at the words on my Yiddish cup. It took about 30 seconds and I knew them. I recognized the Shema.— Cari
Beautiful!!—Gail
I think I’ll have one made for my granddaughter.—Leona
Oh Wow! Mort that is fabulous! We should do a book of Inspiring stories related to Judaism.
Hope you enjoyed your holidays.—Lois
Such a wonderful lesson to be taught.—Joanne
Meaningful sharing of your love for your granddaughter.—Shirley
Mort Laitner.So beautiful!! And what a perfect ending. Thanks for sharing. Loved it —Gina
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Nice story, I looked a the words and my Yiddisha cup took about 30 seconds and I knew them I recognized the Shema!—CM
Just beautiful Mort! A moving story. Thank you.—Aimee
How cool are you!!!!—-Susie
Congrats!—Alan
Mazel Tov— Martha
You are such a talent,—Ros
Great!— Shoshana
Love it!—Jennifer
Thank you for sharing this.—Doris
Great story!!—Marieanne
Nice,—Jason
