By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
SAN DIEGO — Yidel Kleinbart, an Orthodox Jew, was rushing to Mt. Sinai hospital from his Brooklyn home. His wife was in labor, and he had little time to spare. The problem was, there was a great deal of traffic en route to Manhattan. The fastest way to Manhattan was via the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but the line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see. Desperate, Yidel switched into the lane reserved for buses and taxis, and sped right through, not stopping to pay the toll.
As he exited the tunnel, a police car awaited him. “My wife is in labor!’ he cried, and the police responded with an escort all the way to the hospital. Thankfully, the Kleinbarts made it to the hospital on time.
That night, Yidel returned home via the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Upon emerging, he handed the clerk the money for two tolls. “You see,” Yidel began to explain, “this morning I rushed through without paying -”
“Oh, what did your wife have?” exclaimed the toll booth operator.
“How did you know?!” asked Yidel, amazed.
“They told us that someone like you would surely come back and pay the toll,” replied the operator.
The foregoing true story is documented in Torah Weekly, published by Denver Kollel.
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Dedicated anonymously on the occasion of the yahrtzeit of Irving Israel Lederman.
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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Kehillas Torah Congregation. He may be contacted via baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com