Building on a Foundation in Mexico (great!)

Building on a Foundation in Mexico By Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn

In this week's Torah (Bible) portion, we recount the first Sabbath. Throughout the ages, Jews have sacrificed much to "honor" and "guard" the holy day. A true story of how one individual, in the face of great temptation and pressure, was rewarded abundantly for doing so

The negotiations were taking much longer than expected. Two representatives of a real estate conglomerate were trying to complete the purchase of an office building in downtown Mexico City, but the lawyers were belaboring the details slowly and meticulously. Every office had to be inspected, the insurance policies verified, and the terms of payment specified to the last penny. Jacobo Sherem, the managing partner of the owners' group, was desperate to complete the transaction. With every passing moment, he was becoming more impatient and exasperated.


An architect by profession, Jacobo had been trying to sell this particular office building for months, so that he could finally turn a profit on his investment. He had designed, bought and sold buildings in the past, but this building on Calle Presa Salinillas had been his biggest investment, and so far it had been a losing proposition for his group. Due to the depressed financial climate in Mexico, most of the office space was unoccupied.


As the hours passed, Jacobo became increasingly nervous. The buyers had told him unequivocally that they were leaving Mexico on the first plane out the next morning, which was Saturday. They would not delay their trip. If they could complete the purchase that day, that would be wonderful; otherwise they would cancel the negotiations and move on to prospective deals in other countries.


It was the late hour of the day, Friday, that was putting pressure on Jacobo. For the last year he had been attending evening study classes in the Aram Tzovah Kollel in the Polanco section of Mexico City. He studied Torah a few nights a week, but he was not as yet shomer Shabbes (Sabbath observant). After many discussions and much introspection and inspiration from the Kollel fellows at Aram Tzovah, Jacobo and his wife Sophia were inching closer to total commitment to Shabbes observance. Jacobo had already started going to shul every Friday night and his office was closed on the Sabbath, but he and Sophia were not yet complete Sabbath observers.

Continued at http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1006/krohn_foundation.php3

Great Story, I'd suggest reading on!