A Life Saved on 9/11 | Rabbi Shlomo Landau

On September 11th, 2001, at 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower at a speed of over 500 miles per hour. The plane hit between the 77th and the 85th floor. And for the employees of I.Q. Financial Systems on the 83rd floor, this was fatal. Interestingly enough, one fellow who had a beautiful window desk overlooking New York City was not at his desk that morning. As a matter of fact, he really was never at his desk at this time, ever. Who was that fellow? The fellow's name was Shmuel Katz, and he was from Boro Park. He was a Heimishe Yid. And at some point in his life, he needed to transition to the city, to make a Parnassa for his family, and he was hired by this company. For R’ Shmuel, this was a tremendous struggle and a tremendous challenge, because, you see, he had to ride the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan during rush hour and then again home during rush hour, which presented him with almost insurmountable challenges of Shemiras Ha’einayim. He despised his commute, but there was nothing that he could do. After a few years at the company, R’ Shmuel built up the courage and the guts to go over to his boss and ask him for a very unique and almost bizarre request. R’ Shmuel said to him: Listen, I think that I'm a productive employee, I'm a valuable part of this company. Would it be okay if I came in each morning at 11 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. and I would stay until 7 p.m. versus the typical 5 p.m.? I'll still work hard and you'll even have someone there after hours if needed. R’ Shmuel’s thoughts were, if it were like this, he wouldn't have to ride the subway during rush hour and he wouldn't have these challenges of Shemiras Ha’einayim. Miraculously, his boss agreed, and R’ Shmuel's life changed positively in the most incredible way. He no longer had to ride the subway during the height of the rush hour and have the incredible challenges of Shemiras Ha’einayim. He could spend the mornings learning with a Chavrusa, and going to a slower minyan, and his life was upgraded in the most amazing way possible. But R’ Shmuel had no idea that his life wasn't just upgraded, his life would be saved. Because the fact that he was not at his desk at 9 a.m. ultimately saved his life. R’ Shmuel lived another 21 years, was able to be at the Chasunahs of all of his children, was able to see his grandchildren. All in the zechus, in the merit of putting himself out for Shemiras Ha’einayim and not having to go through the daily challenges that perhaps so many other people faced. What a powerful מוסר השכל. He wasn't scared. He had the courage to ask, and ultimately his life was changed. Well, more appropriately, his life was saved.