Mayor Meir

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of YU, who gave the convocation at the GOP convention last August, opened his Shabbos Shuva drashah as follows:

I flew to Tampa, Florida a few weeks ago for the Republican National Convention. When I arrived, I was escorted into a large room where all the Convention speakers of the day gathered along with Congressmen, Senators, Governors and other politicians.

A woman approached me, stared at me, and then asked: "Who are you??" I responded politely, "I am Meir Soloveichik.". "Are you from Florida," she asked. "No," I said, "I am from NY". She looked puzzled and confused, which I found confusing since I figured most people knew there were a lot of Jews who lived in NY.

Anyway, she smiled and walked away. She then approached me again just a few moments later with her husband. She said to me, "Meir Soloveichik -- I'd like to introduce you to my husband, Congressman Walker." The Congressman and I shook hands.

Then the woman asked, "Can you please tell me what city in NY you are the Mayor (Meir) of??"

After the Congregation roared with laughter, Rabbi Soloveichik continued as follows: “And that, Ladies and Gentleman, was the first time in my life that a person was more impressed with my first name than my last name!!!”