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| Isaac Theil with passenger sleeping on his shoulder |
Just when you think the Torah world is overwhelmed with Chilul HaShem, along comes 2 stories
that make me proud to be a Jew. And indeed are a Kiddush HaShem. And the fact that in both cases the heroes
are observant makes me proud to be Orthodox. The hallmark of which is Mitzvah observance. I’d like to think that being an observant Jew produces these kinds of
values. The fact is that this is what Judaism demands of us.
In one story published last week in Tablet Magazine, 65 year
old Isaac Theil, an observant Jew (indicated by the Kipa on his head) was riding
the train on his way home. The passenger next to him - a black man wearing a ‘hoodie’ -‘nodded off’ putting his head on Mr. Theil’s shoulder.
Mr. Theil did not budge allowing his fellow traveler to
sleep undisturbed. Another passenger noticed this and offered to remove the man’s
head from his sholder, Mr. Theil politely declined saying, “He must have had a
long day, let him sleep. We’ve all been there, right?”
When Mr. Theil arrived at his stop, he gently removed the
man’s head trying not to disturb his sleep. Before Mr. Theil got off the train the
fellow passenger who asked if he would like to be helped took a quick photo of
this. Which eventually went viral on the internet. It has gotten a million ‘likes’
on Facebook.
Mr. Theil thought nothing of what he did. Which is typical
of people who are Baalei Chesed. But it is not typical, though it should be. By
doing what he thought should come natural to all decent people he has created a
Kiddush HaShem. My hat is off to him. We
sure could use a lot more Isaac Theils.
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| Rabbi Noach Muroff |
How many people who happen upon a large sum of money in cash would
return it to the owner despite the fact that they could keep it – knowing that
the owner would never find out about it? Hopefully all of us would. It’s the
right thing to do. It’s called being scrupulously honest. But few of us have
ever been tested this way. Well one man was recently tested this way and he
passed with flying colors. He did not hesitate to give it all back. Here’s what
happened.
Rabbi Noach Muroff, a Rebbe in a Yeshiva, bought a desk for
his home on Craig’s List for $200. In the course of trying to maneuver it into
his house he discovered $98,000 in cash hidden in it He did not hesitate and
returned the money immediately to the owner. From News 8:
The original owner was speechless. "Oh my gosh, because I... oh my God," she said. The former owner had stuffed her inheritance in the desk and forgot where she put the money.
That stunned reaction was followed by a handwritten note
published on VIN.
Now that is a Kiddsuh HaShem.
Which goes to show you that all is not lost in Orthodoxy. We
need to learn lessons from these people. They teach with their behavior. And we
should all be willing students.
