After Efraim filled his shopping cart with his family’s needs, he made his way to the cashier to pay. While waiting on line, the customer behind him asked if he was an avreich.
Efraim was unsure where this question was heading, especially since the questioner didn’t have any Jewish resemblance. Out of decency, he replied in the affirmative.
“If so,” the stranger said, “I am covering your bill. When we get to the register, the cashier will scan your purchases together with mine, and I’ll swipe my card for both of us.”
The avreich was glad to have his bill covered, though the offer from this stranger was a bit of a mystery. After the chiloni kept to his word and paid for Efraim’s purchase, the avreich extended to his benefactor his deepest appreciation.
Before they parted, he asked the patron what propelled him to such kindheartedness. “I don’t know you, and I didn’t even ask you for assistance, and you’re just covering my bill?! Why?”
“Let me tell you a story,” came the response. “At the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine reached out to Israel to assemble an Iron Dome for their protection. Israel has the most advanced Dome, and Ukraine paid an astronomical sum to have Israel build one for them.
“I was one of the scientists sent to Ukraine on that mission. After exhausting efforts, the Dome was put together. Shortly after, we saw that it didn’t bring in the results that we were expecting. We guaranteed Ukraine an 80% success rate, and we were scraping our way up to the 50% percentile — at best.
“Our team was sent to recheck the assembly, but we fell short. We were no smarter than when we were sent. Nothing proved to be any reason for the malfunctioning.
“So, we scientists gathered for a meeting. After an in-depth talk, the only thing that surfaced was the Ukraine climate. We must adjust the Dome to the country’s condition, and that would allow it to bring it up to par. So, we fortified their Dome to adjust to the Ukraine’s climate, but it was still etched in the 40% percentile. No improvement from all the upgrades.
“We came together for another meeting, but this time, the Ukrainians were already stirring. The war was in full swing, and the Dome was not proving its talent. That second meeting convinced us that it must be the air pressure. However, regulating the Dome to Ukraine’s air pressure brought us no higher success rate than it had been on day one. No improvement. Whatsoever.
“Seeing you is when it hit me. The difference isn’t in the technology. There’s something else at play here. The reason the Iron Dome works so well here is because of the Torah learning and the davening, versus Ukraine who lacks that. So please accept this as a token of appreciation for your role in protecting our nation.
“I am forever grateful to you. You are protecting us. And I want to share in your learning. That is the least I can do.”
Do we need anything more than the lesson that this irreligious scientist learned? It speaks volumes.
