When you're walking down the street and another person is walking towards you, who says hello first? You? The other person? or neither of you even consider one another?

I was at the National Jewish Federation's Young Leadership Conference this past Monday held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas. As I was walking from the foyer into one of the ballrooms to make my way back to the "back of the house" there were two people sitting comfortably having a conversation.  The young fellow stops his conversation and raises his voice a little and says, "Hi".

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I begin to think, (Well since he said hi, I'll be nice and return the greeting back.) 

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Rabbi: "Hi, are you from Dallas?"

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Young Man: "No, I'm from Austin."



Rabbi: "Were you born there?"

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Young Man: "No, I'm originally from Columbia, SC"

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Rabbi: "Oh, that's neat. I lived in Charleston in the early 80's"

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Young Man: "And where were you born?"

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Rabbi: "I was born in Newport News, VA."

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Young Man: "Wow, my mother's from Newport News!"

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(Now my brain and heart starts to race...)

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Rabbi: "How old are you?"

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Young Man: "I'm 32."

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Rabbi: "Do me a favor, call your parents and ask them who did your bris?"

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This young man called twice with no one answers back in Columbia.

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Rabbi: "Do me a favor, call them in twenty minutes?"

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Young Man: "Ok.Twenty minutes it is"

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As I'm getting anxious I make my way back to him,

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Rabbi: "Please call your parents now"

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Finally the call goes through and it's answered.

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Young Man: "Hello Mom, was the mohel who did my bris from Charleston, SC?  Yes. Was he from Newport News? Yes."

(OMG, I remember the kosher marble rye bread served at the bris was from Warwick Bakery.)

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Young Man: "Mom, I'm looking right at him!"

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As this is going on a few people gather around.

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Young Man: "Hey, here's my sister, Amy & my cousin who lives in Newport News now."

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All this reconnection happened because of a simple greeting of, Hi. This 32 year old, David Kline now lives in Austin and is involved in the Jewish Federation. I'm ever indebted to him for teaching me the lesson of greeting people. Be first to greet! You never know where it'll lead you. B"H, I'm so blessed to have seen one of my boys grow into such a mentch.