When we hear about a daring rescue attempt that saved a life, some of us ask ourselves whether we would’ve been able to be as brave had we been given the opportunity.

Susan Zien’s The Heroes Among Us in last week’s Jewish Press, explores this question. Ms. Zien simplifies the dilemma a little bit by pointing out that even a so-called minor demonstration of compassion can turn a person into a hero. She introduces us to a Bulgarian baker who saved innocent lives at great personal risk. (She did not write that the baker was so severely beaten by the police later that he had trouble with his eyesight for the rest of his life). The “meat” of her story, however, is about her own personal heroes, the heroes of her childhood. They did not risk their lives to save hers, but rather showed her widowed mother and siblings that someone cared about them.

It makes one wonder if all it would take is a kind gesture to someone in a less fortunate situation then our own to be a bit of a hero.

Susie Zien is a coworker of mine (Mr Bump). We are all so proud of her.