Blood from a Stone

[phkrause]

One Sunday morning, Rabbi Rabbinovitz goes to visit one of his congregants, Sam Rosenstein.

"Shalom, Sam. I’ll come straight to the point. I’ve come here because our synagogue needs your help. You’ve been a member for over 20 years and you’re always quick to pay your membership fees in full. But as you are aware, we are in a financial crisis so I've come here to ask you for a little extra for the new building fund."

"How much are you looking to get from me - how big is little?" asks Sam.

"I’ll be honest. $30,000 would be a tremendous help to us," replies the Rabbi."

Sam responds, "Rabbi, my daughter Rebecca is soon getting married and she has asked me for $250,000 to help her buy that house in the suburbs. And my son David is just starting college and tuition alone is $25,000 a year there. My wife Sarah needs dental surgery which is $20,000 for the doctors’ fees and in-patient facilities. And my mother is in a nursing home, they are asking for $35,000 a year.”

“I didn’t know that you had so many financial obligations Sam,” says Rabbi Rabbinovitz.

“I do,” replies Sam. “And Rabbi if I can say 'no' to them, I can say 'no' to you."