A frum man owned a nursing home in Baltimore where all the residents were non-Jews. One day, however, he discovered that one of the elderly women living there was indeed Jewish. He arranged for her to receive kosher meals. But the woman refused to accept them; she insisted on eating the same nonkosher food that was provided to the other residents.
The case went to court. The judge ruled that if the woman did not begin receiving the meals she wanted within 30 days, the facility would be shut down. The owner called Rav Noach Weinberg and begged for a heter, but Rav Weinberg ruled that it was forbidden to serve this women treif.
Several months later, Rav Weinberg met the man and asked what had happened. The man replied, “We figured it out. She agreed to eat kosher.”
“How did you do that?” Rav Weinberg exclaimed.
“My life was on the line,” the owner said simply. “I was in danger of losing the facility and my entire livelihood. I had no choice: I had to figure out how to get her to become religious.”
All of us must realize that our lives are on the line as well. Our entire existence revolves around our obligation to create a kiddush Hashem. If we understand that, then we will make any sacrifices that are necessary — giving up time, money, or anything else that is required — to carry out our mission and achieve the purpose of our existence.
Reproduced from A Life Worth Living by Rabbi Shraga Freedman with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
