A young Rabbi in the Southwest used to invite people to Shabbat dinner at his home. Eventually, the number of participants grew and there soon was a need to build a new synagogue to serve more people for prayers, instruction and social events.

The Rabbi tried raising money by organizing parlor meetings and speaking to prospective donors, but the vast amount required for a new building was not forthcoming. Not being highly polished but of the more sincerely devout type, the Rabbi’s appeal was limited, and so was his fundraising.

One day, an unaffiliated man came to the rabbi to inquire about the proposed synagogue building. He asked if he could contribute to the project, and the rabbi said, of course, his donation is welcome. The man said that he wanted to donate $2,000, but when he realized that he didn’t have his checkbook with him, he begged the rabbi's forgiveness and promised to return next day.

The man returned the next day, and wrote a check for $2,500, saying he decided to give more, and also mentioned that he hoped to send a check each month. Thanks to his generosity, they were able to build a nice synagogue with place for a school and adult education.

This special relationship continued for several years until the man, a bachelor, suddenly took ill and died. His mother took over his successful business, and noting that her son had directed his accountant to send a check to the rabbi each month, his mother continued to support the synagogue, and also added considerably in her son’s memory.

It seemed strange that this man who never had any connection with the Jewish community now became its prime supporter. At an observance marking the man’s yartzeit, the rabbi said that he had asked the man this very question, and the man explained:

"I once took a trip to Israel, and toured the Western Wall. Not having been educated Jewishly, I didn’t really know what to do. But seeing other people, I, too, took a piece of paper, wrote my name on it and put it in a crevice between the stones. Not knowing what else to do, I tried asking a religious fellow nearby who was reciting Psalms from an old weathered book.“

“I waited for the fellow to pause from his prayers so I could speak to him, but he was so absorbed that he didn’t notice me, and continued reciting his psalms with fervor and devotion. I was very impressed and taken aback by this swaying fellow, with tears streaming down his cheeks.”

"The tour guide called us, so we had to leave. I never got a chance to speak with that man. But the rest of the tour, I was haunted by that young man’s image, saying psalms with such piety and purity.

When I returned to the U.S., I wanted to ensure that we have more sincere and devout people like that fellow at the Western Wall. So when I heard about this rabbi’s project, I was determined to help and support him."

The rabbi continued. “The time will come, after 120 years, when that fellow who recited psalms with devotion ascends to Heaven. The angels will take out a book in which this young man’s deeds are recorded and will read it to him. They will get to a part where it will say that he helped build a synagogue and a Jewish school for children, an adult education institute, and a social hall in the South West of America. The young man will stop the angels and disagree, insisting that he had never left Israel.

But the angels will tell him: “True, you never left Israel, but one day when you recited psalms with devotion you happened to influence another Jew to donate money to build a big institution that would otherwise never had been built. You are therefore responsible for this institution, and deserve reward for this in Heaven.”

We don’t always know what influence our action has on others. Just being an honest G-d fearing Jew is all that can be necessary to influence another Jew to do a great deed.