Twenty-two million candles

Think a minute…Ann Scheiber lived alone in her small apartment in New York City having never married. She did not own a car, so she walked everywhere wearing the same old black coat. 

For 23 years she worked in the U.S. tax department called the Internal Revenue Service. By the time she retired in 1944 she had saved about $5,000, which she then invested in the stock market. Through the years she continued learning how to invest. But instead of spending all of her profits on herself, she kept living simply and investing her money. By the time Ann died at the age of 101, she had turned her $5,000 into $22 million! 

Finally, Ann allowed herself one big spending spree. She gave all of her $22 million to Yeshiva University to help students she never met at a school she never attended. 

Ann wanted to help young women fight the prejudice and discrimination she had suffered for 23 years working in the government. Even though all those years she was the top employee of her department and #1 in production—as a woman, she never once received a promotion. 

Ann’s amazing, generous gift came at a perfect time for many young women who were just starting their education at Yeshiva University, but who did not have enough money to finish and graduate. Now, their life’s dreams would come true because of Ann’s life of sacrifice and giving.

The university president Dr. Lamm said: “Here’s a woman who for 101 years had no children, yet now becomes a mother to a whole community. Not only now, but for generations to come.” 

Ann Scheiber’s $22 million gift came at the time of Hanukkah, when Jews celebrate the miracle of the menorah light burning for eight days. The president said, “Ann lit 22 million candles for us, not just eight.” Her light now has spread around the world through all the young women she helped educate and graduate from Yeshiva University. 

At the truly perfect time for all of us, the Light of the World sacrificed His perfect, innocent life to give us His own abundant, everlasting life. Won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins and wrong living, and then take charge of your new, changed life with Him today?

It is the only way your Creator’s dream and plan for your life can come true. Just think a minute… 

Samoa Observer

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