Pauline had only stopped at the supermarket to pick up a few things on her way home.

As she walked towards her car, she noticed a woman making her way slowly towards a nearby bus stop. Several shopping bags hung heavily from her arms. Then one of the plastic handles gave way. The bag split open and groceries spilled across the pavement.

Without thinking, Pauline hurried over.

“Let me help you,” she said.

Together they gathered the scattered items. Seeing the woman’s difficulty, Pauline offered to drive her home.

The woman hesitated. Pauline was dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved T-shirt. To her, she looked like any other young woman.

“Are you Jewish?” the woman asked.

Pauline looked surprised.

“Yes,” she replied. “Why do you ask?”

The woman smiled but did not answer.

“Yes,” she said. “I’d appreciate the lift.”

When they arrived, Pauline carried several bags into the house. Before leaving, she wrote down her phone number.

“If you ever need a lift to the shops, just give me a call.”

A few days later, the woman’s son telephoned to thank her for helping his mother. What began as a simple thank-you led to a coffee. One meeting led to another. Before........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)