Change for the good

Rabbi Baruch Lederman

SAN DIEGO — The tribes of Gad and Reuvain wanted to live on the other side of the Jordan
River, which would separate them from the rest of the Children of Israel. Moshe  realizing that this could potentially have a debilitating demoralizing effect on Klal Yisroel established parameters to keep the nation intact. We do not live in a vacuum. Ours words and deeds deeply affect others as the following true story illustrates:

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 in the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

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’.
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Dedicated by the Ida & Estelle Pressburg in loving memory of their parents Shneur & Luba Pressburg.

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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego.  He may be contacted at barcuh.lederman@sdjewishworld.com