Home › Forums › Inspiration / Mussar › TO MAKE A KIDDUSH HASHEM
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November 25, 2009 7:10 pm at 7:10 pm #590855GetzelParticipant
A very important thing for all of us to make a Kidush Hashem, and to teach our children as well.
Here is a story i recieved from a friend.
Several years ago, a rabbi from out-of-state accepted a call to a
community in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an
occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he
sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a
quarter too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, ‘You’d better give
the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it’.
Then he thought, ‘Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter. Who would worry
about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare;
they will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from G-d’ and keep
quiet’.
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he
handed the quarter to the driver and said, ‘Here, you gave me too much
change’.
The driver, with a smile, replied, ‘Aren’t you the new rabbi in town?’
‘Yes’ he replied.
‘Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to
worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much
change. I’ll see you in Shul on Shabbos’.
When the rabbi stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the
nearest light pole, held on, and said, ‘Oh Rebono Shel Olam, I almost
sold a Yid for a quarter.’
Our lives are the only thing some people will ever read.
This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as JEW, and
will put us to the test! Always be on guard — and remember — You
carry the name of HaShem on your shoulders when you call yourself a
‘JEW’.
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
November 25, 2009 9:35 pm at 9:35 pm #668828mybatMemberWow getzel! I guess we can never let our guard down and we always have to act to a certain standard because of what we represent and how people see us!
November 25, 2009 11:42 pm at 11:42 pm #668829SmartJewMemberThank you!!
I do campus kiruv, and when I first started, I was very intimidated…Here I was, the only frum Jews on campus surrounded by these brilliant students. I realized that I had to be so careful with all my actions and words, and how I present myself because I am representing Judaism..and then I realized, why just on campus?! We all need to constantly remind ourselves that we need to present ourselves as an Am Kadosh, no matter where and when.
November 26, 2009 5:26 pm at 5:26 pm #668830NY MomMemberVery powerful story. Thank you getzel1 for reminding us of who we are and what we represent to the world.
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