80 year old Rebecca, who has never married, lives in Golders Green and
is much admired by the community there for her kindness and her charity.
One spring afternoon, Rabbi Levy calls on her. She welcomes him into her
house and invites him to sit down while she makes for him "a nice glass
tea."
As he is waiting, Rabbi Levy notices a Hammond organ against the wall.
On the organ is a cut glass vase filled with water and he’s shocked to
see a condom floating in the water. "Oy veh," he says quietly, "she’s
gone meshugga."
Rebecca returns with tea and buttered matzo and they begin to chat.
Although Rabbi Levy tries hard not to mention the vase and its content,
he just can’t avoid raising the subject. "Rebecca," he says, pointing to
the vase, "Vos is dos?"
"That’s my miracle," she replies. "I was walking down Hendon Road last
November when I found a little packet on the ground. When I opened it,
the instructions said it would prevent disease if put on the organ and
kept wet. And guess what, Rabbi? I haven't had a cold all winter."