I had just moved to America from Israel (a story in its own right, but not for now...), and having to put together an apartment from scratch, I was tipped off to Costco as a good place to load up on household basics.
So after dropping off the kids at camp, between a thousand errands, I raced into Costco, looked around, and decided it was worth becoming a member.
Later I came back to Costco, started shopping, but had to cut it short to pick up the kids from camp. The store let me put my cart to the side.
For the third time that day, after the kids were in bed and my husband was at home, I returned to Costco, loaded up a second cart full of stuff, and proceeded to make my way to checkout.
Costco is very particular about what forms of payment they accept. I didn't have that much cash, our checks had not yet arrived in the mail, we don't have American Express, but, ah-hah, I did have my debit card on me.
Three swipes, but no go. My debit card, for some reason, was not accepted.
Two carts, three visits to this gargantuan store in one day, hours of my time wasted.
A manager was called over. He made a red X on my receipt, and rolled my carts away. I stood, blinking. Two carts, three visits to this gargantuan store in one day, hours of my time wasted.
Then I heard a voice.
"I'll pay for you," a woman called.
I looked over. A woman in the next line, an African American woman, was talking to me.
"I'll pay for you," she repeated. "But I'm trusting that you're going to pay me back!"
"Of course!" I said, making my way to her.
"I just saw the look on your face," she said. "And I could totally see something like that happening to me. But I'm trusting you," she said again.
The manager brought my receipt. The information was quickly scanned. My Costco angel swiped her American Express card, and charged $440.71 for my things. We exchanged addresses and phone numbers, and agreed to meet in two days so I could pay her back. I hugged her in the store. I told her she should be blessed with everything good that she wants, and that she should be the recipient of such acts of kindness.
"I'm sure you do good things for people, too," she said. "I like to do an act of kindness when I can."
Pushing two huge carts and dazed from the events, I made my way, into the parking lot and proceeded to forget where I parked my car. My skirt got caught in the wheels of the cart and I had to tear the bottom of my skirt to get untangled. I'm not usually this much of a space cadet, but I was really blown away.
Two days later, my Costco angel, Jacquie, came by the house. "My husband," she said, "is a cynic. He said I shouldn't have done it, that people show up to stores and do that just so people like me can fall for it! But I saw the look on your face..."
I gave Jacquie the money as my children looked on, while telling them about the amazing act of kindness my new friend Jacquie had done for me.
It's got to be the most important lesson in life. We think that we get ahead by taking and acquiring. But the best way to expand our world is by giving.
The ironic thing about stocking up on so much stuff is that it often leaves me with an empty feeling. After spending all that money, I yearn to connect with something more lasting, less perishable, more eternal. With enough toilet paper, paper towels, paper goods, peanut butter and aluminum foil to last us for months, I yearn to get back to the world of people.
"Now I know how we make a new friend," my five-year-old said later. "We do a kindness for somebody."
(31) Alexa Witt, June 17, 2009 9:26 PM
I sent Jacquie a Christmas present
...a gift certificate to Old Navy! I didn't even realize it was something necessary according to halacha (see comments below), I just saved her address till December to send her a gift for her holiday. I am so glad the story was a chessed as well. Alexa Witt
(30) Anonymous, October 7, 2007 1:18 PM
Overgrown Lawn
The other day my sister and I were driving down our street and we noticed that one yard was overgrown and hadn't been mowed in quite awhile. That was unusual because it is usually one of the nicer lawns in the neighborhood.
saved a circular that someone had left on our door a few weeks ago. We called and had them mow and trim their lawn.
Instead of getting angry I knocked on the door and a rather ill looking person answered it. I discovered that the homeowner had been ill and simply could not do anything as hard as mowing.
My sister and I are both senior citizens ourselves and I'm in a wheelchair. We puzzled about what to do.
Aha! We had, for some reason
We told the kid who did the work just to knock on the door and ask if he could mow their yard as proof of what they could do as they lived on a corner lot and could use it as a show place.
HaShem made me do it.
(29) Libby, October 7, 2007 7:54 AM
There's a feeling about doing 'good' that is indescribable. I've been on the receiving end of lovely gestures, and it's heart lifting.
What I love to do sometimes, is to put quarters into parking meters just before they expire - and just ahead of the meter maid!! The recipient never knows what I did, but I get a great deal of satisfaction. And have left many an annoyed meter maid in my wake!!
This woman's story, while heartwarming, isn't really unique. I have found that people are just as capable of great, random acts of kindness as they are of acts of calculated unkindness.
(28) MJ, October 6, 2007 4:05 AM
the importance of testimonies like this...
This is a beautiful story about human kindness and compassion. What's great about sharing such a story is that every time someone else reads it - they too participate in the act of kindness - both the giving and the receiving and thus, the act is multiplied - at least in the minds of all of us who read your story. thanks :-)
(27) Sarah Rivka, October 5, 2007 4:49 AM
WOW! :)
That's amazing, and a great lesson for the kids! :)
(26) aaron, October 4, 2007 6:23 PM
.........
tell us the story of you moving from israel to america please. i'd be interested.
(25) mijal, October 3, 2007 3:36 PM
thanks for sharing
Thank you very much for sharing this magnificent lesson with us, it is true that we sometimes forget that our essence is truly to help others and do acts of kindness. May H' keep bleesing you and your new friend Jacquie!!
(24) lisa, October 3, 2007 3:15 PM
wow
Wow, what an amazing woman. I don't know if I have the strength to do that...
(23) tzippy, October 2, 2007 9:34 PM
KINDNESS IS A DIFFICULT THING TO GIVE AWAY-IT IS OFTEN RETURNED.. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO DESERVE THIS!! THANK YOU!!
(22) Anonymous, October 2, 2007 7:55 PM
the week of Rosh Hashanna I was shopping at costco. While I was loading my truck I saw a couple parked in front of me trying to fit a large table in their car. I saw how fustrated they were and offered to take the table to their home for them. It turned out they were having a lot of family for the holidays. I always feel so good when I help others and they were so greatful. It turned out they had a conection to a special ed- school that would help my friends special needs child. God is always working with us!!!
(21) Rosen, October 2, 2007 4:15 PM
unconditional/unlimited kindness
It's an important rule of thumb, which the Torah teaches that kindnessed must be practiced unconditionally. If only more and more people did unconditional acts of kindness, there would be less conflict in the world. It's sad how some corporate and executive giants seem to profit from dissatisfaction of their clients, often due to a rigid policy. Thus, we should go above and beyond people's expectations and make them feel relieved, rewarded, and welcome with their unconditional and unlimited kindness.
(20) Andy, October 2, 2007 10:43 AM
not enough time or material to reward all gentiles and of course G-d loves them and rewards them as well in the nest world.
Rachel w is I think misguided. Please ask your Rav if OK to let Hashem work his world.The woman who hepled was already rewarded on earth by having her faith in another verified.If Jews had to reward non Jews for all acts of Chesed we'd have no time for anything else.For the record it is my understanding from my Rav that we read the book of Yonah on Yom Kippur to remind us that G-d loves non Jews as well.
(19) Andrew, October 2, 2007 7:59 AM
Wonderful
I have forwarded this to some of my friends asking them if they would have done the same in that situation . This may jog them a bit . Having said that I wonder if I would have done the same . I sincerely hope I would have .
(18) Ben, October 1, 2007 10:58 PM
When we give to other people with out expecting anything in return, we have this beautiful feeling in our hearts and it is because God is in us who make us to do that.
(17) rachael w, October 1, 2007 11:23 AM
please send a small little gift as a tokeken of thanks to this wonderful woman.
according to my rav a non jew is not allowed to have done a chessed for a jew without being rewarded on this earth, my rav always cautioned us to compensate a non jew for any act of chessed that was done for us.This way i was always able to also make a kiddush hashem in the process.
(16) Anonymous, October 1, 2007 9:48 AM
Beautiful!
So heart warming!
(15) john disabatino, October 1, 2007 8:03 AM
What a great story
What a beautiful story and a great way to make friends. Thank you for the inspiration!!
Kind regards,
John disab
(14) RTaylor, October 1, 2007 1:36 AM
Blind chesed is the best kind.
We are Baal Tshuvah. It is refreshing to hear a story of a Jewish person and a non Jewish person interacting in a positive way. My Children come home with prejudice remarks made by other children. These are usually a reflection of the home. When we chose this path our non-Jewish friends(which i still have) were very supportive. Keep on giving.
(13) BRENDA, September 30, 2007 8:55 PM
ONE WORD - BLESSED !
wHAT A BLESSING THIS ARTICLE IS.
(12) joseph cohen, September 30, 2007 7:28 PM
great story
what a wonderful story and a great lesson for everyone. In today's " me first " world this was a breath of fresh air. And by the way I shop at Costco Pharmacy every month.
(11) Howard Lewis, September 30, 2007 7:23 PM
Jacquie is a friend of mine, even though we never met!
I lover it!!!
(10) Michael Dav, September 30, 2007 7:21 PM
It's a small world!
First of all, thank you very much for sharing that beautiful story. I have heard stories like this many times and again..... something similiar even happened to me. Secondly, this shows us that the world really is a smaller place. The importance of sharing events like this is beyond emphasis, so thank you again!
(9) Sara, September 30, 2007 5:51 PM
This beautiful story brought tears to my eyes. In this world of ours, how many such acts of kindness go undone and what new friends have we not met? I will think of this next time I notice someone in need.
(8) Cassandra Wang, September 30, 2007 3:24 PM
Thank You!
For mentioning that Jacquie Is African American. It is not often positive encounters with my ethnicity get any press. I am deeply grateful.
(7) Rose Fishman, September 30, 2007 3:14 PM
MAY G-D BLESS THE COSTCO ANGEL & YOU
THIS STORY WARMS MY HEART, AND SHOWS ME
AND ALL OF US THAT THERE ARE ANGELS, OF ALL COLORS SENT BY G-D. IF EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD COULD READ THIS STORY AND TREAT OTHERS WITH SUCH LOVING KINDNESS, THIS WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND TRUST ONE ANOTHER.
BLESS BOTH LADIES.
(6) Sarah, September 30, 2007 3:09 PM
WOW what Bitachone this fine woman had!
Although I would strongly advise others not to do this, I cannot help but see that God guided this woman, a stranger, and she "read" the writer correctly, as a woman in need , not a thief.
Many years ago my neighbor wanted to move from one state to another and could not afford movers for her furniture. She hired a college student who was also enroute there (not frum or even Jewish as far as she knew), to use a U-Haul and with no more than a glance she allowed him to remove all her possesions and drive off. Afterwards I thought that was so foolish to trust him like that. But he arrived with all her stuff and all was well in the world at that moment in time. We cannot go around squinting at everyone with suspicion because there are a few con artists out there. Sometimes it really feels good to trust and give L'Cof zechus, even at great risk. Here only money was at stake. Sometimes it's a more costly risk. As I said to start, I would not have recommended this be done, but I am glad it was and had a good ending.
(5) Marcia Saul, September 30, 2007 1:26 PM
A beautiful story!
Welcome to the more beautiful side of the USA. You made my day!
(4) Miriam Atkin, September 30, 2007 12:37 PM
There should only be more people like Jacquie. What a wonderful lesson in compassion, and kindness, and they say, from the mouths of children comes wisdom,we should take a lesson from this story.
(3) Anonymous, September 30, 2007 12:01 PM
Indeed an angel
That was indeed an angel. I know I could not have done it - not for that much.
(2) Lazar Gillig, September 30, 2007 11:18 AM
An amazing story
Jacquie will be blessed by Hashem a million times over. Sadly, I wonder how many frum Jews would ever even THINK of doing such a thing for a non-Jew.
(1) Batsheva, September 25, 2007 11:45 AM
Very moving!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful, life affirming story. It's always great to hear about an act of kindness in this world of cynical distrust!