Rabbi Yisrael, the leader of the Jewish community, was walking on the outskirts of town, praying that God would help them, when he noticed a cloud of dust winding toward the city. As it approached, he saw that it was a long caravan of camels. “Halloo there,” he called to them. In just a few seconds, an Arab merchant rode up to him. He looked worn and tired, but from his clothing, Rabbi Yisrael knew that he was quite wealthy.

“Salaam Aleikum, the merchant greeted him, “Is this the road to Damascus?”

“No,” Rabbi Yisrael answered, “This road leads to Jerusalem. What a magnificent caravan.”

“Magnificent?” he snorted, “It’s only trouble. I’ve been carrying flour for weeks, but no one buys it. I just want to get home.”

“Flour?” Rabbi Yisrael answered, “I would gladly buy it all, only I don’t have the money. Our holiday of Pesach is just three days away and we need flour to bake matza.”

“Maybe we can help each other,” the merchant suggested. “What if I give you the flour now, and you pay me back when I return here in a month.” Rabbi Yisrael quickly agreed, and the Jews of Jerusalem had matza for Pesach. During Hol HaMo’ed he wrote letters to the Diaspora describing what happened and asking for help to pay for the flour. In just a few weeks there was enough money to pay for it all, but the merchant never showed up, so Rabbi Yisrael put the money in a bank. A year went by, and then another, but the merchant never returned. After a few years, the sum in the bank doubled and tripled. No one could touch it though, because it belonged to the Arab merchant.

Many years later, when Rabbi Yisrael was dying, he told his son what to do: “Wait ten more years for the merchant to return. If he does come back, you must pay him for the flour, but if he doesn’t, you must take the money and share it among the poor people of Jerusalem before their holidays. This way, everyone will benefit from the merchant’s kindness.”

Ten years later, Rabbi Yisrael’s son took some of the money to buy food and clothing for the poor people of Jerusalem. He did that before every holiday for many years.