Hope you’re having a great day.

I recently heard a story that inspired me.

And I thought to myself, “Torah Minute”!

It’s not about a “great Rabbi” or a famous person.

But about a person who should be famous!

An “ordinary” Jewish woman who recently passed away.

Ida and Moshe Schreiber caught the last ship out of Frankfurt Germany in 1940.

And they settled in Venezuala.

Having been uprooted and forced to flee for their lives?

And rebuilding their lives in a strange country?

They could have been forgiven if they focused on their own needs.

But they didn’t.

Their home was the only kosher one around.

And it became open for all.

All types of people were welcomed with open arms.  Year after year.

Wealthy businessmen from all over the world.

And very poor people collecting charity.

Ida Schreiber didn’t need to teach her children about doing chessed, acts of kindness.

She didn’t need to give them speeches.

They learned from her example.

Every single person was treated like royalty.

All her guests sat together at her huge dining room table.

She didn’t know from wealthy or poor.  “Sophisticated” or “simple”.

In her eyes everyone was the same.

Human beings created in the Image of G-d!

And fellow Jews whom she loved.

And not only did she treat them like royalty?

But she treated them like members of the family.

Literally!

What does a mother do when a child comes home from school?

She doesn’t just cook a great meal.

A mother makes her kid’s favorite dish.

Ida Schreiber did something amazing.

She had a little book.

And in it?

The favorite dish of each guest.

What they especially enjoyed. 

As well as any special needs that they had.

… Jews are known as the “People of the Book”.

And Ida Schreiber was a true “Woman of the Book”.

She internalized the lessons of the Torah.

And the little book that she kept?

Is a “how to do acts of kindness” handbook.

And we should be inspired by it!

All the best,