When a Kind Word Defused Danger in a Life-Changing Encounter

A Dramatic Encounter in London

Rabbi Aharon Taussig once related a firsthand account of an extraordinary event that occurred to a wealthy Jew living in London. This is the man's story; in his words:

One night, as I was making my way home after Maariv (the evening prayers), a gang of criminals confronted me on the street. A few stepped behind me to prevent me from escaping, and the ringleader, a huge man who towered over me, gruffly said, "Your money or your life!"

I literally don't know what got into me, because instead of pulling out my wallet and handing it over, I addressed this giant. "What do you need the money for?" I asked him.

"What do you think? To head to the nearest bar, buy wine and whiskey, and drink myself under the table and forget everything!" he replied. "So hand over your money, now!"

Words from Heaven

"You know what?" I said. "You seem like a decent and well-meaning person who just wants to enjoy a drink. Here, take twenty pounds to tide you over." 

The giant stared at me for a moment, clearly taken aback, but then he took the banknote from my hand and left with his accomplices.

The next day in synagogue, I recited the Hagomel blessing to thank Hashem for saving my life. I still couldn't fathom why I had responded that way. It didn't make sense, as I'm not by nature a courageous person at all. I could only imagine that Hashem had put the words into my mouth.

It turned out that there was much more to it.

A Criminal's Tears

A few days passed, and as I was about to leave the synagogue after Maariv, I stopped in my tracks. There, just a few feet away, was the "giant" of my previous encounter, clearly waiting for me. There were plenty of people on the street so I wasn't scared, and I approached him.

Before I had a chance to say anything, he fished in his pocket and brought out a few coins.

"You gave me twenty pounds, but in the end it cost only thirteen. So take seven."

This time it was my turn to be taken by surprise. "I don't get you. You wanted all my money, and now you're giving me change?"

To my shock, tears formed in the giant's eyes. "Ever since I was a little kid, everyone told me I was a nobody, a piece of dirt, that nothing good would ever come of me. I believed it. You're right — that night I would have taken all your money off you, and... I don't want to say what I would have done if you'd put up a fight.

"But instead, you called me decent and well-meaning. No one ever spoke to me like that before." The giant broke down entirely. "You're the first person to see anything good in me."

The Impact of a Kind Word

In the Talmud, our Sages said, "Better to show the whiteness of your teeth [i.e., smile] to your friend than to give him milk to drink."

While milk might cover a person's immediate needs and give him temporary relief, the effect of a warm smile and a kind word is immeasurable, as this incredible story shows.