An email to my sister | June 10, 2015 at 2:17pm

I was just shown the most profound kindness by an old religious Jew at a flea market in Ramla. He had a rounder of shorts, 3 for 10 shekels (about $3 CDN) but I only had 5 shekels in my pocket. So I asked him if he takes a credit card but he said in broken English “I understand you don’t have money.” He bagged the 3 pairs I was holding and said, “Free. Free. Take.” I couldn’t believe it. It was the first act of kindness with no strings attached that I experienced in Israel. I actually gave him a hug.  My eyes watered as I walked away.

– Sent from my iPhone

A week later I returned to the flea market in Ramla and tried to pay the man 20 shekels. He refused the money. I tried and tried to give him the money until it became obvious it would be an insult if I persisted.