Among his neighbours, Ben was known simply as “Cabbie Ben.”

Each morning, on his way to work, he passed the same bus stop. Whenever it was cold or raining, he would slow down, lower the window and call out:

“Anyone heading towards the town centre?”

Sometimes one person climbed in. Sometimes three squeezed into the back.

During the journey, people would talk. One complained about work. Another worried about a hospital appointment. Someone else simply needed to be heard.

Ben listened, offered a few encouraging words and usually found a way to make them laugh before dropping them off.

“You should start charging,” his wife would tell........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)