By: Rabbi Shraga Freedman

Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff shared the following remarkable story that took place a number of years ago, yet its message is especially relevant today.

The residents of Ezras Torah neighborhood in Yerushalayim were deeply disturbed by a man who deliberately disrupted the sanctity of their Shabbos. Week after week, the same car would drive through the neighborhood in circles for the sole purpose of provoking the Shabbos-observant residents.

Some people responded by protesting and shouting at the driver, but Rabbi Hershel Zaks chose a different approach.

One Shabbos, he memorized the car’s license plate number. After Shabbos, he was able to locate the owner’s address in the Ramot neighborhood. Accompanied by a friend, Rabbi Zaks traveled to the man’s home and knocked on the door.

A young boy answered. Looking at the two visitors dressed in black, he called into the house, “HaShechorim higi’u!—The black ones are here!”

From inside, his father shouted back, “Give them a shekel!”

“We’re not here for money,” Rabbi Zaks gently replied. “We’d like to speak with your father.”

A few moments later, the man came to the door.

“What do you want from me?” he asked.

With warmth, respect, and genuine concern, Rabbi Zaks explained how painful it was for the residents of Ezras Torah to have someone deliberately drive through their neighborhood on Shabbos.

The man listened and then replied, “You’re crazy… but you’re right. I won’t drive through your neighborhood anymore.”

About a year and a half later, Rabbi Zaks received an invitation to the man’s son’s bar mitzvah, along with a note saying that it would mean a great deal if he attended.

When Rabbi Zaks arrived at the simchah, the father greeted him warmly.

“About two years ago, you came to my door and asked me not to drive through Ezras Torah on Shabbos,” he said. “Today after a long journey and soul searching, I am shomer Shabbos, because you cared enough to come to my home and speak to me with such respect.

“I sent my son to a religious school because I want him to grow up to be like you—someone who cares enough about another Jew to reach out with dignity, kindness, and understanding.”

(Adapted from the Foreword by Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff to A Life Worth Living ArtScroll/Mesorah).

As we enter the Nine Days, this story reminds us that our greatest tool for overcoming conflict is to reflect the middos and ne’imus that the Torah expects of us in our interactions with one another.

Every act of understanding, every respectful conversation, and every display of genuine care strengthens ahavas Yisrael and helps replace sinas chinam with ahavas chinam. This is how we help bring about the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash and increase kavod shamayim.

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Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.