If you want to know how special the Jewish nation is, keep reading.
My heart is so full right now.
So, my son Tzvi had to head back to base very early this morning. He had to be there at 7:30 a.m. and it’s an hour-plus drive away. So he’d either have to take public transportation and leave at around 5:30 a.m. or someone would have to drive him.
I spoke to a professional driver who offered to take him free of charge. But I figured since I don’t know when Tzvi is coming home next, that I’d take the opportunity to spend some quality time and drive him myself. I thanked the driver for his kind offer and left the house with Tzvi.
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Shilo, a volunteer with Yedidim, helps the author with his shredded tire
(Photo: Courtesy)
Anyway, all was good. He made it there on time and I headed back home to start my day/week.
In the middle of the journey back, my car’s warning light turned on. One of my tires was missing air.
That happens a lot and I usually go to a gas station and fill up air, so I wasn’t too concerned, and I kept driving.
Well, pretty soon it became clear that it wasn’t missing a little air. I had a flat. I was in the middle of the highway so I couldn’t just stop. The noise the tire was making was not fun to hear.
I drove to the nearest gas station and tried to fill up air. The tire was so flat, even that didn’t work.
Wonderful. Now what?
Over the years, I had heard many times of this organization called Yedidim, a volunteer organization for when you have car troubles. It’s made up of random kind-hearted people who will come and do whatever needs to be done. Totally free.
Why do they do it? Because kindness is a strong pillar of Judaism and for them, it’s a chance to get a mitzvah (a good deed).
Anyway, I had never had to use them, but as soon as I realized my situation, I called them.
After a short wait, a young guy, Shilo, shows up, puts on his yellow vest, and gets to work. I was already feeling so grateful.
But then, it got a bit complicated. In order to take off the tire and bring it to get it fixed or replaced, there were these plastics pieces that needed to be removed. Shilo tried to take them off unsuccessfully. He was trying to improvise and use any tool he could find. No go. The plastics weren’t coming off.
Then, out of nowhere, a car pulls up, and an elderly man rolls down his window, “Do you need help?” This guy was easily 80.
Long story short, these two men, who don’t know me, aren’t being paid, get to work and remove the tire.
Step one? Done.
Next. Now we need to bring this obliterated tire to a tire place to replace it. So he puts the bad tire in his car and we set out to get a new tire.
We go to the place that Shilo knows well, and no go. They don’t have it. It’s apparently a special tire for this car specifically.
Another one? Nope.
Meanwhile, this whole time, Shilo, who by the way, is 18 years old and is learning Torah full time in yeshiva, takes the tire place to place, won’t let me carry it, won’t even let me open the door for him.
After three failed attempts, we find a tire.
On the way to the place to get the tire, Shilo has a call. I overhear the conversation. “When are you going into Gaza? Ok, take care of yourself and keep me posted….”
I didn’t want to pry but I had to know. “Who was that? Who’s going into Gaza?”
“My dad," he tells me. “He’s been in the army basically since October 7th.”
“Is that hard for him?”
“Of course. But he knows it’s what he has to do.”
“How does your mom handle it?” I asked him.
“She’s a principal of a school. It’s definitely not easy but she too knows that this is her job now.”
I am out of words.
So now, I am standing at the tire place waiting for him to give me the new tire, so we can drive back to the car and mount it.
I asked him if there’s anything I can do for him. He looked at me all confused. “Letting me do this mitzvah for you is enough,” he says.
This entire time, this young guy, Shilo, is driving around Israel with a stranger who needed help. He is patient, he is calm, and I’m sure he has better things to do on a Sunday morning.
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On the way, I decided to start a conversation. Not sure why I felt the need to share this, but I did.
“The fact that you’re helping me today is very special. It’s been a rough few days. Not sure if you know the name Ari Fuld, but he was my brother who was murdered and his terrorist is being released as part of this deal.”
Shilo legitimately turned white. “Ari Fuld was your brother?? Of course I know him! Wow. What a zechut (Merit. Meaning he feels so fortunate to be able to help Ari’s brother.)!
Heading back to the car now and then to my first meeting. On the way, Shilo is playing a song by Avraham Fried talking about how special the Jewish people are. He is clearly a big fan of Jewish music and Avraham Fried specifically so I showed him some pictures I have with Jewish singers. He was majorly fanboying.
I told him I have a few followers online so maybe I could help with something. He told me I already helped him and said he wants nothing.
Not that I had any doubts, but life in Israel these past few days wasn’t exactly easy.
This morning, Hashem showed me once again why I live in this unbelievable country and why I would never live anywhere else.
Who is like your nation, Israel?