Note: The names have been changed in this story.
Like most people I have a daily routine. My routine is rather simple: wake up, get ready for the morning minyan, go home and change for my three mile walk at the mall. Yes, I am a mall walker with my wife. The mall we like to walk in is one mile in circumference on the main floor and slightly less on the lower floor. There are many people that walk the mall because it’s climate controlled all year, has music and the surface is smooth.
One morning my routine changed slightly, when a WhatsApp message from the shul house committee was broadcast for assistance. The WhatsApp asked if anyone was around at 8:30 a.m. to meet an air conditioning technician and a township inspector. I responded that I could meet them and was thinking no big deal, I’ll walk later.
At precisely 8:30, I pulled into the shul parking lot and saw a service truck from the central air condition company that we have used since the inception of the shul. I approached the van and introduced myself to the tech sitting in the cab of the truck. The gentleman responded that his name was Ramon.
We started chatting about how long he’s been with the company and I told him I remember Tommy, who was the shul’s tech for over 15 years. I asked Ramon where he was from originally and he told me he’s from the Dominican Republic. Since the inspector we were supposed to meet was late, I had an opportunity to question Ramon about an air conditioner I had recently replaced in our home. Ramon answered all my questions and I learned a great deal about the proper care of our new central air unit.
While speaking with Ramon, he told me that his son converted and was now an Orthodox Jew. The look on my face must have told Ramon that I was surprised and wanted to hear more. Ramon proceeded to tell me he had cancer for over two years and was out of work while getting chemotherapy. Ramon’s son, Juan, was in Columbia University and had a friend that was an Orthodox Jew. One day, Juan was telling his friend Yaakov that his father has cancer and was weighing different options where to get treatment. Yaakov immediately told Juan that there was only one place his father should consider, Sloan Kettering in Manhattan. Yaakov told Juan he knew a doctor and would make a call for an introduction if Juan allowed him to. Ramon continued by saying, “If not for my son’s friend at Columbia I might not be here talking to you.” Ramon got into Sloan Kettering for treatment, went into remission and ultimately went back to work.
During the two years of treatments and recovery, Ramon’s son started asking probing questions about the Jewish faith and at some point, Juan converted. Ramon told me that his son lives in Texas and observes Shabbos. When the family visits Texas they are not allowed in the kitchen out of fear they might use the wrong dishes or utensils. Ramon also stated that no one in his family is permitted to call after sundown on Friday or any other Jewish holiday.
The one act of chesed to reach out to a doctor in order to help a friend’s father changed many lives. Whatever Juan, Ramon and his family’s impressions were about Jews prior to this medical event, I am quite certain it is vastly different today. I’ve tried to teach our children that if they hear or see an opportunity to help someone, Jew or non-Jew, they should always lean into it with alacrity. I can only imagine how Yaakov felt by making that simple phone call.
Keep doing chesed because that is what God expects from all of his children. Have a gibbenched year.
Leslie Srolovits is a retired banker/technology officer of various international banks. He can be reached at [email protected].
