Hi,

I hope you had a wonderful Rosh Hashanah.

And may you and your loved ones have a Shanah Tova.

Filled with good health, joy and peace!

… Sorry for being a bit spotty lately.

Besides the holidays, we’ve started working on our annual fundraiser.

It’s a very busy time!

… It reminded me of an experience I had.

It’s about fundraising dinners.  And its perfect for this time of the year.

I was attending Yeshiva.  Rabbinical Academy.

One of the largest Yeshivas in America.

Which makes it the Yeshiva with the largest deficit!

My parents attended the annual fundraiser.

And the Dean made a point of greeting every guest.

We’re talking over a thousand people!

… My father introduced himself as Moshe Katz’s father.

The Rabbi proceeded to list every Katz in the Yeshiva.

“Oh.  From Los Angeles”?  “No”.  “Manhattan”?  “No”.

Finally, my Dad, who was a kibitzer, told the Rabbi.

“My son is the brilliant one”!

They both had a good laugh. 

… A few days after the dinner?

I got a message.  The Dean would like to see me.

Quiet a surprise.  He hardly knew me.  I had just come to the Yeshiva.

I couldn’t imagine what he could want.

But he taught me a lesson that I never forgot.

A lesson you don’t learn from books.  Only from great people.

… He was concerned.

Because he met my Dad at the dinner.  But didn’t recognize my name.

And he was afraid that my father was slighted!

So he wanted me to send his apologies.

I was amazed!

The Rabbi had the entire financial burden of the Yeshiva on his shoulders.

Had greeted hundreds and hundreds of people that night.

Many of them major contributors.

But he was concerned about Moshe Katz’s Dad!

… It’s such an important lesson before Yom Kippur.

That no matter how important a project we may be involved in?

And no matter how much pressure we may be under?

We have to be careful about the feelings of every individual. 

All the best,