I wanted to share a story that I witnessed myself. I have a business in which I often meet with investors who put money into products and services, which have so far b”h earned them a lot of money.
Just this week, I had a meeting scheduled with an investor who had put a lot of money on the line in a business venture and he was eager to hear how his funds, which consisted of most of the money he had to spare, was performing.
But just minutes before our meeting was planned to start, he texted me that he was on an important call and asked if we could talk later. I said sure, it made it no difference to me. Later on, when we met, I asked him out of curiosity what was so important that he had to be on the phone, so much so that it was more urgent than knowing how his investments were doing. He told me, very casually, that he had to be on the phone with CHEMED. I asked him if everyone was OK, and he said yes.
He explained that he had scheduled an appointment to receive a Covid-19 vaccine from the clinic for a certain day. But he then was able to receive the vaccine earlier after there were some extra doses left and they called him to come in. However, he said his appointment had not been canceled. So he called CHEMED’s vaccine hotline and waited for hours on end to cancel his appointment so that someone else could take his slot and get their own vaccine earlier.
I was shocked. Here was a guy who had dumped most of his life savings in an investment and he was, understandably, quite interested in knowing how the investment was turning out. But allowing someone else – who? it doesn’t matter – to be able to get their vaccine earlier took precedent to any financial interests that he had. What a lesson in being a mentch.
This is what caring about other people looks like. It’s doesn’t have to be the big, gaudy, public actions that all of us do from time to time to gain approval from others. Rather, it’s the small stuff that nobody necessarily knows about, the small acts of caring and kindness and thoughtfulness towards others. And that kindness is what makes the world go round.
Don’t publish such letters.
That is really rude.
Actually @ Don’t care illustrates exactly the point of the letter writer. If everyone spoke and acted in a caring way there would be no point in the letter indeed. So thank you for publishing!
Because it makes us (you know who) look good?
Don’t publish such comments.
Someone’s got a sense of humor
This is one of thee most heartwarming, encouraging and inspiring letters I have read.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. In a world where rudeness and nastiness is what makes headlines. This proves there is more unknown goodness, chesed and plain menshlechkeit in the world than we hear about. מי כעמך ישראל??
I really like this letter. We should all work on having that level of sensitivity & thoughtfulness towards others.
@Don’t care This was a beautiful story. That fact that you don’t care says more about yourself than anyone else. Go bully someone else but leave good people alone. Good day
That was very inspiring. Thank you for sharing! Please stop the negativity in the comment section. Its getting out of hand!!!
We need to hear and read more stories like this one.
Beautiful! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us!
Hero?
very inspiiring! a example of how a emesdike yid should behave!
That is exactly what the mevorshim say in this week’s parsha about the CHASIDA and the ACHBAR (see the TAM VADAAS from Reb Moshe Sterncuch and the RAAM M’GUR)