Many years ago when I was a rabbinic intern I did a lot of time in South Jersey assisting the local Jewish communities.

At one point I was in Vineland and staying at the home of Rabbi Yisroel and Mrs Rapaport. The visit to their home was a wonderful experience, to enjoy the warmth and love that they exuded.

I slept in a guest room. There was something there that caught my attention. The room was filled with sports memorabilia. Boxes and bags with tons of cards, equipment, etc. I was a bit taken aback. It’s all fine and well to be a sports fan, but can there be a limit? The time, money and effort that must go into this. Has he nothing better to do? But then I learned something. The rabbi has little or no interest in these things. It’s only that a member of his community fell on hard times. The rabbi wanted to help him but the guy refused to take a handout. So the good rabbi offered to buy his memorabilia off of him so he can get back on his feet and feel like a mentch.

I never forgot those 2 lessons I learned in that day.

1. Don’t be quick to judge.

2. Find ways to help people so that they don’t feel like they are a charity case.

May his memory be for a blessing.