Honoring Guests

An American tourist walks into a shul in Yerushalayim where many prominent people davened such as the President, Yitzchak ben Tzvi and Menachem Ussishkin, the famous Zionist leader. The shul was packed and there wasn't a seat available. The gabbai approached the anonymous man and showed him to a seat right next to the President. The man was taken aback-  a complete stranger walks into shul and is put next to the President?!

At krias hatorah, he is honored with an aliyah. When the gabbai says that he will donate ..... The man says "TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS". Wonder of wonders. This is many decades ago when that was more than a princely sum.

His donation paid for the completion of the building and a sign thanking him is hanging on the wall until this day....:-)