Miracle of Kindness: Stranger Buys Bar Mitzvah Tefillin for Needy Boy
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
In Hadera, a woman buying expensive tefillin for herself learned a local mother could not afford even the cheapest set. The first woman then paid for both sets, costing thousands of shekels, and gave the needy mother extra money. The act of kindness occurred at "The Jewish Home" store owned by Rabbi Eliyahu Apple.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- A stranger in Hadera paid thousands of shekels for two sets of tefillin for a needy boy and his mother.
- The act of kindness occurred at "The Jewish Home" store owned by Rabbi Eliyahu Apple.
- The boy later celebrated his bar mitzvah at the "Heichal Shmuel" synagogue.
- The story is presented as an example of faith and kindness, echoing Abraham's legacy.
In the city of Hadera, a remarkable act of generosity unfolded at "The Jewish Home" store, owned by Rabbi Eliyahu Apple. A woman from Herzliya arrived with an urgent request for the most expensive and ornate set of tefillin, needing it within fifteen minutes. Rabbi Apple and his wife worked diligently to prepare the custom order, which took over an hour.
While the first woman waited, a local mother entered the store, inquiring about the cheapest tefillin set. Upon learning the basic price was still too high for her, she sadly turned to leave. The first woman, witnessing this, immediately instructed Rabbi Apple to give the needy mother the most expensive tefillin set.
Before the surprised mother could comprehend, the stranger paid for both sets of tefillin, costing thousands of shekels, and added extra money for the boy's "aliyah laTorah" (a Torah honor). She then warmly blessed the mother and departed.
Rabbi Apple was deeply moved by the chain of events, questioning what led the woman to his store at that specific time and what prompted such profound generosity towards a stranger. The boy later celebrated his bar mitzvah at the "Heichal Shmuel" synagogue in Hadera, founded by Sami Levy.
The story is presented as an example of faith and kindness, echoing the legacy of Abraham, emphasizing that there are no coincidences and that individuals can be instruments of good deeds, performed secretly and wholeheartedly.