By Rabbi Baruch Lederman, Congregation Kehillas Torah, San Diego

Every Jew was commanded to contribute one half shekel to the mishkan (tabernacle). The wealthy were limited from contributing more and the poor were not permitted to contribute less. Each person’s contribution was the same. This reminds us that every person has the ability to make a contribution to society as great as anyone else. Everyone has the potential to achieve greatness. That greatness can be tapped in remarkable ways as the following true story, told to me by Rabbi Zvi Freund, illustrates:

Early in his career, Rabbi Hillel Mandel taught 4th grade in Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe in Kew Gardens, NY. He once had a student Heshy* (*name changed), who was not doing well in his studies and in addition to that, behaved in a manner that disrupted the class.

Rabbi Mandel was asked by the principal to try to "lift him up". The principal explained that Heshy’s parents were in his office, pleading that their boy had a good heart, but he was getting lost and no one was helping him. He was drowning and no one was throwing him a lifeline. The principal asked Rabbi Mandel to do whatever he could.

Rabbi Mandel accepted this challenge, and immediately tried every trick in the book to aid young Heshy. He tried moving him to a better seat. That didn’t help. He tried calling on him more. That didn’t help. He tried positive reinforcement. That didn’t help. He tried talking with him privately and strategizing together about his schoolwork. Still nothing. He tried giving him extra help on his assignments. All to no avail.

No amount of praising, coaxing, cajoling or anything else made any impact on poor Heshy. There was no change whatsoever in his poor performance. Every day, Heshy fell further and further behind the rest of the class. Rabbi Mandel truly felt for him. He was after all, a nice boy; but what could he do? He was running out of ideas.

In addition to his academic failings, he was not doing well socially within the class, and his behavior was going from bad to worse. Even during recess, Heshy had problems.

One day the class was going on a special field trip where they would eat a picnic lunch. As they were about to leave the classroom, Heshy said "Don't forget the bentchers (prayer books containing the Grace after Meals)."

Suddenly, a thousand lights went off in Rabbi Mandel’s mind. It occurred to him that whatever qualities and abilities Heshy possessed or lacked, he had a keen sense of responsibility. Finally there was a glimmer of hope - a leg to build on.

From that moment on, whenever he needed to be reminded of something, he would single out Heshy.  "Heshy, remind me to give out the workbooks. Heshy, remember to collect the extra credit assignments."

This proved to be the key to the mystery that was Heshy. He felt that he had a contribution to make to the class. This new sense of self-value set Heshy on a path that ultimately unlocked his potential. By the end of the year Heshy had improved dramatically - both academically and socially. He was now indeed a model student.

Dedicated by Howell & Elsie Schwartz in honor of their children Pamela & Daniel.