This morning while dropping the Kosher kids off at school (Chabad of Ashdod), I witnessed an incredible act of “hesed” (human kindness). The Rav and his wife (the Rebbetzin) stand watch as the many cars and buses pull up. They are there almost every morning, rain or shine (sometimes extreme rain and extreme shine) to greet each and every child. It’s not an easy task considering there are over 600 students. They know all of the students by name and I am pretty sure each and every one of their parents as well. Today, I saw a security guard get out of a taxi in front of the school (he is the security guard for the main entrance to the elementary school). The Rav immediately went over to the taxi cab and took something out of his pocket and handed it to the security guard. When the Rav finished, I asked what had happened (always curious and needing to know everything). Why did he he bolt over to the cab? The Rav told me that the buses were running late. The security guard usually catches a ride with one of the buses but saw that it was late and didn’t want the children to be without a guard during drop-off in the morning. The Rav told me the security guard was very poor and shouldn’t have to pay for the taxi cab The Rav, also not a wealthy man, took what little he had from his pocket and gave it to the security guard to reimburse him. The Rav and his wife are far from wealthy. They watch over their students and their schools every day for little (money) in return. The Rav is constantly searching for more funds for the school (to assist with families who can’t pay), often times seeking the help of Americans willing to donate from abroad. They turn no student down because of money. There are some students who ride the buses to and from the school every day and their parents can’t pay the minimal fee the school charges for transportation. The Rav says, “What? A student should be kept from learning because he doesn’t have bus fare?” They have a soup kitchen that feeds hundreds of meals every day to families in need (while also making sure their students are fed as well). The Rav didn’t even hesitate when he saw the man pull up. His immediate, knee jerk reaction was to help. These are wonderful examples of kind and loving human beings that I am happy to have watch over my children every day.