In an inspiring act of honesty and integrity, a yeshiva bochur from Boro Park, returning home from Eretz Yisroel for Pesach Bein Hazmanim, made a remarkable Kiddush Hashem when he returned a bag filled with over $100,000 in valuables that had been mistakenly left in the Uber he took home from the airport.
The bochur, who had just landed at Newark Airport after an overseas flight, was handed a backpack by the Uber driver while unloading his own luggage. In the fog of travel, he assumed it belonged to one of his fellow travelers. However, after realizing that none of them could claim the bag, he opened it to investigate.
To his astonishment, the bag contained an array of luxury items, including Rolex watches, loose diamonds, cash, and a custom diamond-encrusted pendant—altogether valued at well over $100,000.
Despite the tremendous temptation, the bochur immediately set out to find the rightful owner. His efforts led him to a phone number belonging to a man who works in New York City’s Diamond District. The grateful owner, a Spanish-speaking individual, was relieved and overwhelmed to have his belongings returned. Though he preferred to avoid publicity and declined to share many details, he expressed heartfelt thanks for the honest young man’s actions.
This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the values instilled in yeshiva students and the everyday opportunities for Kiddush Hashem that arise—even in the most unexpected circumstances.
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16 Responses
I wonder how much of the reward you lose for running to report it to the news after instead of holding your wonderful deed inside
ועמך כולם צדיקים
תמיד כדאי לשאול הרב מה מותר ומה אסור לעשות…
Just curious, how did he know that the guy hadn’t just robbed a jewelry store?
@rebEmes, why would you wonder that? And do you actually wonder that?
A) Maybe he didn’t run to report it and B) if he did, it’s a Mitzvah to be mefarseim a kiddush Hashem.
Here’s some advice… Look for the positive in things and it will make you a happier person. Hatzlacha
Great! Hope the $$ and diamonds were legal.
Nobody knows who the bachur is and nobody knows who the recipient of his mitzvah is, so no reward has been lost to anyone. Kiddush Hashem.
To David,
The Rabbi would tell him to give it to the Rebetzin. She promised to return it.
@RebEmes
And why should one hold a good deed inside?
And lets entertain that the guy wanted some accolades for his good deed… That too much of a big deal? And perhaps, it was not accolades he sought, in fact, perhaps it wasn’t even him who shared the story, but someone who was aware of the story peripherally?
Heres my ponderance…. How much Schar is there to be gained by having a Lev Tov instead of a Tzares ayin?
there will always be the haters like rebemes
Rebemes, there is a mitzva to publicize a Kiddush Hashem. It also doesn’t mention the bochur by name.
@rebemes – As Rema writes in the name of the Rashba: מצוה לפרשם עושה מצוה
Thank You Shmita for the amazing job you’ve done outing in 100s of hours in this case
#Poshmark.com is the place
@rebEmes – Nasty comment! Do you know how the information became publicized? Are you being dan lchaf zechus? Are you trying to be mean or does it come naturally?
If you want to know if something is a Kiddush Hashem or c”v farkert please contact YWN and other chillul Hashem resources.
‘They are experts in the fields of Kiddush Hashem as well as ahavat yisrael and other core tenets of Judaism
In an English book about Rav Avraham Pam z”l, it is related that two of his talmidim returned money found in used suits. When asked why they didn’t keep the money, they both replied, “I am a talmid of Rav Pam.” What ilui neshoma could be greater for the revered Rav Pam?