Just two years ago, YWN reported an incredible act of Chesed, which took place on September 23, 2008 at the Flatbush Bonei Olam Dinner.

At that dinner, Mr. Abraham Banda, proprietor of the then-newly opened Pomegranate, stepped up to the podium and declared that he was pledging a whopping one million dollars to the organization. Following the surprise announcement, the entire crowd of more than one thousand rose to its feet and gave Mr. Banda a long and enthusiastic standing ovation.

Still, some people were skeptical that the pledge would ever be fulfilled, since Pomegranate – an upscale gourmet market the likes of which the Orthodox community had never seen before — had opened its doors for business during extremely difficult economic times.

Well, any skeptics present at this year’s Flatbush Bonei Olam Dinner had their doubts put to rest when R’ Shlomie Bochner, the organization’s founder and executive director, stood up and proudly announced that more than $500,000 – over half the pledged sum — has already been delivered to Bonei Olam.

At that point, Rabbi Bochner called Mr. Banda to the podium and presented him with a large book containing hundreds of “pin numbers” – each one representing a couple struggling with infertility. Rabbi Bochner went on to inform the crowd that hundreds of families have been directly helped through the funds donated by Mr. Banda. Indeed, every dollar contributed thus far, he told them, had been tracked and entered into this book.

YWN later spoke with Mr. Banda and asked him why he chose to make his pledge publicly rather than privately.

“I felt that by making this pledge publicly, others might be inspired to assist this incredible organization, which helps people have children and build families in Klal Yisroel,” Banda said.

Mr. Banda also had a message for the residents of Flatbush. “I want them to know that they fully share in the z’chus of my donation to Bonei Olam, since all the funds have come directly from Pomegranate — which they have supported from day one. Without their incredible support, I would never have been able to make such a pledge.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to express my deep hakoras hatov to the entire community.”

VIDEO OF FULL SPEECH BELOW

(Dov Gordon – YWN)