Once there was a proctor who earned extra income by administering final exams in schools that were shorthanded. He had earned the reputation as being extremely strict, who would not let the student exceed the allotted testing time by even one minute. He once administered the test to some ninth graders. Among those students sat Chaim. He was a quick- witted youngster who had a reputation of always asking for more time on tests. The test began with the usual, “you have exactly one hour and thirty minutes to complete this exam. If you are so much as a minute late, I will not accept your paper.” Sure enough at the end of the exam, Chaim was still writing. “Please, he pleaded, I only need two more minutes.” True to his reputation, the proctor refused. Exactly 90 seconds elapsed as Chaim approached the desk, test in hand. All the other tests were lying in a pile next to the stern instructor, who refused to take Chaim’s paper. Chaim was aghast, this meant he would fail the course. He quickly barked at the instructor, " “Do you know who I am?”

The instructor shook his head as if he truly did not care. Chaim repeated the question, only this time much more sternly. “Do you know who I am? “Do you know who my father is?” This time the proctor replied angrily, “I don’t know who you are and I don’t know who your father is. To tell you the truth, I really don’t care!” “Really, asked Chaim with a look of triumph.” “Great.” With that he grabbed the stack of papers and shoved his paper somewhere in the middle of them. “Have a nice day!” Though no one gets lost in the shuffle in G-d’s eyes, my moral here is, it’s always safer to be in a crowd of like-minded believers. You’re much less apt to get picked at then. Of course like Chaim, a little quick wit always comes in handy also.