Rav Daniel Agalar shared a great story. A non-religious bank manager in Eretz Yisroel had just decided to become observant of Torah and Mitzvos. Already on the first day of his commitment, he faced challenges in fully carrying out his decision.
Every morning, the bank provided cake and coffee for all the employees, and as he was starting to eat, he remembered that he couldn’t just eat without making a Brachah. But to do that, he knew he must put on his Yarmulka, which, at that time, he wasn’t wearing. However, he was afraid, unreasonably, that if someone caught him doing this, he would be fired.
As he was thinking all of this over, he noticed on the security cameras a prestigious philanthropist had just come into the bank to put something into his safe deposit box. As he was walking, the bag he was holding ripped open, and his whole collection of priceless gems fell onto the floor, scattering in every direction.
All the bystanders in the bank started bending down to take this opportunity to get their hands on a priceless jewel, thinking, how could anyone stop them? Seeing the potential liability on his hands, the bank manager quickly pressed the “control button,” which is used in case of a bank robbery, and locks all the doors of the bank, which effectively seals everybody in. The jewels were at least now contained in the building.
The Philanthropist was on the Floor Gathering His Fallen Gems
When he then looked closer at the scene on the camera, he saw this philanthropist on the floor gathering all his gems. This was an unusual sight because he normally conducted himself in a dignified demeanor. This was now totally lost, and he was on his hands and knees collecting his gems like everyone else.
The bank manager thought to himself, “Is this really what I am seeing? That this philanthropist is conducting himself in such a way? It is beneath his dignity to do so!”
