Community Magazine December 2003

KISLEV 5764 DECEMBER 2003 59 ed to stop at a market to pick up some food for the trip. Iran is no dif- ferent than New York, park illegally and you get a ticket. So I stayed in the car, while my friends did the shopping. Just then, I heard a knock on my window. There stood a man, dressed in tattered cloth- ing. As I opened my window, he asked, if I could help him with bus fare, which was 20 riyals (about two dollars). I gave him 200 riyals (about twenty dollars). He said thank you and left. My friends returned and the mood in the car became very jolly. As we peeled tan- gerines and pistachio nuts, we sang in unison with strong spirit to the music playing on the radio. There was a straight highway before us leading into the next town where we would soon reach our destination. We were young, carefree and somewhat reckless. We dared the highway to support our speed of 95 miles an hour—but the road had other ideas. Our straight highway, took a sudden turn to the left and I lost control of the car. Swerving off the road, we hit a metal sign that was installed into a cement barrier. We broke through it and fell off a two story cliff. The car slid down an embankment and tumbled over five times, landing upside down at the bottom of the cliff. We only know what happened because we were told by someone who witnessed the whole accident. The only thing I remember after hitting the sign is holding onto my steering wheel, not being able to keep my eyes open and yelling “Ya- Moshe Rabbenu help us!” At this point, I am stuck in my car and very disoriented. I open my eyes and think “Am I alive or is this a dream? What happened? Where are my friends? They are not in the car!” Suddenly, I heard my friends calling to me from outside the car, ask- ing if I’m okay. They were each thrown out of a window; one from the side and one from the rear. I asked them if they were okay and Baruch Hashem, quite amazingly, we all answered in the affirmative. I told them I was stuck and with the strong smell of gas in the air they moved fast to try to free me. They pulled me out and as we looked at each other, we realized in disbelief, that none of us had any injuries, not even a scratch! Twelve police officers soon appeared as we stood there surveying the damage. The police began interrogating us as to where the people were, who were in the car at the time of the accident. Convinced that it could not be us, they began looking for freshly dug up ground, and were grilling us, about where we buried the accident victims. It took some persuasion, but eventually, they had no choice but to believe that we were the very lucky people who survived the wreck. I wondered how it was possible for us to make it through such a horrific accident without injury whatsoever. I came to one conclusion. Although my exchange with the poor man at the market was minimal, it was in the merit of that act that we were saved. Even though, at the time, I hardly thought about the act of Hesed (charity) I had per- formed—I didn’t even think to mention it to my friends when they returned to the car. Nevertheless, I am very grateful to Hashem for sending the man—or maybe he was Eliyahu Hanavi or an Angel— who thought he needed me and had the courage to ask for two dollars. I never even gave it a thought that I would be paid back, but I was— Hashem paid me back with my own life! As it is written, “Sedaka Taseel Mimavet”, “Charity saves one from death” it is the only way to explain why I am here today to tell my story. – Ezra Askarinam s xc Michelle Cohen 1966 E 14th St (side entrance) 718-627-2669 •Layette Items • Stretchies• •Velours • Pajamas• •Blankets• •Soft & Wooden Toys• Mother's Best More than just NURSING PRODUCTS WE SHIP ANYWHERE • DELIVERY TO DEAL eyq Gift Baskets and Gift Certificates Available CALL US WITH YOUR BABY GIFT LIST! We Wrap & Deliver HANUKAH GIFT OPEN HOUSE! Mon Dec 8 th & Tue Dec 9 th 10am-6pm Featuring our complete selection, plus a display of hats, hair accessories & costume jewelry by Tali’s Accessories, plus Makeup by Rayna & Tupperware by Sheryl • Halston • Bali • Warners • Jockey • Hanro • Calida • Olga • DKNY • Teenform • Wacoal • Natori • Chantelle • Grenier • Gemma • Champion • Maidenform Teenform • Wacoal • Natori • Chantelle • Grenier • Gemma • Champion • Maidenform Lingerie & Loungewear Full line of undergarments with expert fitting & alterations. Nightgowns • Pajamas • Bridal Sets • Robes 1433 E 13th St (side entrance, 2nd door) Sun, Mon & Thu 11am-5pm • Wed 8pm-10pm Evening appts. welcome 718.787.0744 Vanity Fair • Warners • Jockey • Hanro • Calida • Olga • DKNY • SALE