Last week I was walking with Keren & Gavi to Just Bags at Lawrence Plaza (BTW, they're a great spot to buy luggage, knapsacks, purses, lunchboxes, etc. Wait for a sale, although there's always something. They're great about repairs. My kids are very hard on their stuff!)
Anyway, back to the story....
I was walking with the kids and we passed a man asking for money. I didn't have anything with me, and I said so. I rarely have any cash, change or otherwise, in this day of ATM, debit, and charge cards. I did make it a point to look him in the eye and answer though. It's a value Sean and I have tried to instil in the kids. Eye contact- realize you are speaking to a person, a valuable human being. We also keep change in the car to give out. We most often encounter beggars while in the car. I felt bad having to say no.
After a few steps, Keren stopped. "Eema, I have some money." She unzipped her bag, pulled out a twoonie, and went back to give it to the man. I stood, looking on, very proud of her. She spoke to him; looked him in the eye, and handed him the money. She didn't expect anything back, but the satisfaction of doing a mitzvah. (We put a twoonie in her bank, unbeknownst to her.)
Wow, kids really do learn what we do.
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