Yossi had upgraded to Economy Plus, but once seated, a flight attendant asked if he’d switch so a mother and daughter could sit together. He wasn’t sure why they asked him, but he felt they saw a visibly Jewish passenger and assumed he’d agree — even though it meant giving up his upgrade.

He agreed and moved to a seat all the way in the back, right in front of an elderly couple.

Mid-flight, bad weather forced the plane, originally headed for Newark, to divert to Albany. After refueling, they were supposed to continue, but the flight was eventually canceled. At 11:30 p.m., passengers found themselves stuck in Albany’s tiny airport, scrambling for options.

The older couple behind him, probably in their seventies, were clearly panicking. Yossi turned to them and asked, “Can I help you somehow?” They told him there was nothing to do — they were stranded. He asked where they needed to go. “Jackson, New Jersey,” they said.

Yossi smiled. “That’s where I’m going too. I’m booking an Uber — it’s about four hours. You can split it with me if you’d like.” They gratefully accepted.

In the chaos of baggage claim, everyone was trying to grab an Uber. Yossi managed to find a driver but had to pay extra to hold him. He ran to find the couple and he helped them with their bags and got them to the waiting car.

On the long ride, they talked. The couple said they were from Louisiana, visiting their daughter in Jackson.

Around 2:00 a.m., the older woman turned to Yossi. “Can I be honest with you?” she asked. “We’re evangelical Christians. We love Jews. But our daughter converted to Catholicism and resents the Jewish families moving into Jackson. She says they’re changing the schools and ruining the neighborhood. But I’m going to tell her this story. There’s not one Catholic your age who would have done what you did tonight. But a Jew did. And she needs to know.”

We keep hearing stories like this again and again. Hashem’s hashgachah constantly places us in positions to make a Kiddush Hashem — big or small. This story had so many twists that gave Yossi the chance to step up: the seat switch, the weather diversion, the canceled flight, the elderly couple sitting right behind him. Each detail led to this opportunity.

With our explosive growth and all the news, we’re given endless opportunities to show the world who we really are. We just have to be ready — constantly living as mekadshei Hashem.

(This story was heard firsthand.)

Rabbi Shraga Freedman of Living Kiddush Hashem Foundation

Email LivingKiddushHashem@gmail.com for a free file of a booklet of stories.