A vacation often presents us with unique opportunities to carry out our mission. Our travels may take us to places where the local residents, or other vacationers, have never come into contact with religious Jews, and probably never will again. We can be in the position of making the pivotal first (and only) impression that some people will have of Orthodox Jews. Let us be certain that it is a good impression.
A large frum family was once traveling from Denver to New York by car. As they passed through Iowa, they decided to stop for a break at a rest area. The children piled out of the van and began to enjoy themselves, romping around in a large grassy area while their father lay on the ground and allowed the smaller children to bounce on him.
An older couple who found the scene intriguing came and positioned themselves on either side of their car, leaning on the open front doors, and proceeded to watch the family’s activities for about fifteen minutes.
When the family prepared to leave, the couple approached them. “Did you notice us watching you?” the older man asked. “It was so nice to see such a wholesome display of healthy family life. We had thought that such a thing was extinct in America.”
Reproduced from Living Kiddush Hashem by Rabbi Shraga Freedman with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
