The following story illustrates two crucial concepts in human relations: 1) Not jumping to conclusions, and 2) Allowing another person to enjoy "his moment in the sun."

The intimate circle of friends of the Ksav Sofer (19th century leader of European Jewry) were among the elite of the Torah world. This distinguished group of rabbis and friends had gathered for a celebration meal at which various rabbis addressed the assembled guests. When the Ksav Sofer's turn to speak came, he told his audience that he had with him a treasured possession that he was ready to reveal for the first time.

Everyone watched in awe as the Ksav Sofer took from his pocket an authentic half-shekel coin that was used in the time of the Holy Temple. The coin was over 2,000 years old!

The discussion soon changed to the various ancient laws regarding the half-shekel. The coin was passed from hand to hand, each person examining, fingering and caressing it gently with a nostalgic longing to be in contact even for a moment with the glorious bygone era of Jewish history.

The evening wore on and after a while the Ksav Sofer, not having seen the coin for what seemed a very long time, asked that it be returned to him. He asked the people on his right, but they didn't have it. He asked the people on his left and they didn't have it either. Everyone began searching for it, and soon it became obvious that it was nowhere to be found. A stony silence fell on the room.

One of the rabbis present rose and said, "Honored rabbis, we simply cannot leave this room before this precious coin is found. Perhaps everyone should empty his pockets. Who knows, maybe someone inadvertently put the half-shekel in his pocket with some of his other coins."

A nervous stillness pervaded the room. No one was ready to accuse any of the distinguished guests of theft - nonetheless, the coin had to be somewhere.

Among the distinguished rabbis around the table sat Rabbi Yehudah Asad of Hungary, who was a good bit older than the others present. He became very pale and slowly rose from his seat, as all eyes turned to him. "Honored rabbis," he began, "It is true, the suggestion of checking everyone is a good idea, but I must ask you that we wait before we check any pockets or take any action. Let us wait 20 minutes." The eyes that had turned to him with respect now betrayed surprise. He caught the others' reaction and calmly added, "I cannot explain just yet, but please be patient, wait just 20 minutes."

In deference to his seniority they agreed. It was the last thing they had expected him to say, but they had no choice but to abide by his wishes.

The time passed with quiet conversation and speculation as to why Rabbi Yehudah had made such an unusual request. As the 20 minutes came to an end, the saintly Rabbi Yehudah got up again and addressed the now apprehensive guests. "I beg your indulgence. Perhaps you consider this strange, maybe you even suspect me of taking the coin, but please let us wait just 10 more minutes. I beg you. I will not ask for any more time."

The rabbis and guests were perplexed and impatient. Not only was it late, but they wished to resolve the matter. Yet, once again, because of their respect for Rabbi Yehudah, they agreed to wait 10 more minutes.

Time passed slowly but after just a few minutes, the door of the room swung open and in ran the waiter wildly shouting that he had found the half-shekel among the dishes and silverware while he was cleaning the kitchen. Obviously the coin had been placed momentarily on the table and was swept off by mistake with the soiled dishes and silverware. Laughter and joy erupted, as everyone thanked the heroic waiter profusely. The Ksav Sofer was ecstatic as he beamed in relief.

In the bedlam, someone went over to Rabbi Yehudah, and soon a crowd gathered around him. "How did you know?" someone asked. "What was your reason for waiting?"

R' Yehudah smiled softly and said in an apologetic voice, "My friends, it was surely not my intention to reveal to you what I now must, but under the circumstances I know you will understand." And from his pocket he took out an authentic half-shekel coin!

After the collective gasps had subsided, he continued, "As you see, I too have a half-shekel of my own. However, when I saw the joy that the Ksav Sofer had in displaying his half-shekel, I didn't want to show my own, for that might, Heaven forbid, diminish the pleasure he had felt in possessing such a coin.

"However, once the coin was missing and the suggestion was made that everyone empty his pockets, my own half-shekel would have been found, and it would have been almost impossible to try and explain that I had one before I came here. Thus, I asked for the delay and prayed that somehow the lost one would be found and that the Almighty would spare me the agony and embarrassment of trying to explain something that would be so difficult to believe."