Parshas Ki Seitzei 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
והתעלמת מהם השב תשיבם לאחיך ... (כב-א)
MASHAL: While vacationing in Florida, Mr. and Mrs. Berger made a long drive to a distant restaurant to satisfy a sudden smoothie craving. Upon stepping out of the car, Mrs. Berger spotted a sparkling, custom-made piece of jewelry lying on the pavement outside. Recognizing its substantial worth, later estimated by a jeweler to exceed ten thousand dollars, her immediate concern was the owner’s inevitable anguish. She chose honesty, so she left her phone number with the restaurant manager in case anyone inquired.
The Bergers eventually returned to New York. Sure enough they soon received an international call from a Mr. Gold in England. Having desperately retraced his steps to the Florida restaurant with his wife, he obtained the Bergers’ contact details. Mr. Gold precisely described enough details of the jewelry to confirm his ownership. Delighted to help, the Bergers arranged for a relative traveling to England to hand-deliver the treasure.
Moved by this exceptional integrity and the profound Kiddush Hashem created, Mr. Gold asked if he could support a tzedakah in their merit. Mrs. Berger suggested a family she knew struggling with wedding expenses for their daughter (hachnasas kallah). Mr. Gold made a generous donation and shared the inspiring tale with friends. Inspired, they too eagerly contributed, fully covering the wedding expenses.
NIMSHAL: The mitzvah of hashavas aveida can accomplish much more than just reuniting an item with its owner. It sends a reverberating message about the beauty of a Torah Jew and the mitzvos which hallmark his life.