Extract 4: Thousands mourn ‘God’s postman’

Wealthy Jewish man gave away £2m before fatal crash.
Observer, Sunday March 30 2008

A wealthy philanthropist known as ‘God’s postman’ died in a car crash just two days after an extraordinary act of charity in which he handed out cheques worth £2m to help people fallen on hard times, staying up until 4am to ensure that no one was left out.

Benzion Dunner, 45, was killed behind the wheel of his £175,000 Bentley Arnage last weekend when it collided with Toyota Celica on the A338 near Bournemouth, Dorset. The passengers of both cars, including two of Dunner’s nine children, survived with slight injuries.

Two days earlier, hundreds of people had queued through the night outside Dunner’s home in Golders Green, north London, asking for help with their financial troubles. He listened to each in turn before sharing out part of the personal fortune gained from his property business.

Dunner, an Orthodox Jew, gave away the money to mark the religious festival of Purim. His grieving father, Rabbi Aba Dunner, told The Observer:
‘He was singing and dancing with them and made each one feel special. He listened carefully and each one was given help according to their needs. It went on all Thursday night through to Friday morning.’

The act of generosity was an annual event at the home of Dunner, who was known for welcoming in people throughout the year and helping to cover their educational, medical or other essential costs. He was also a school governor and an often discreet benefactor of charities, hospitals and homes for the elderly.

‘He saw himself as God’s postman,’ his father continued. ‘He said to me, “God doesn’t give it to me to put in the bank. He entrusts me to do with it what he would want me to do.” He lived life to the full and described himself as a poor man with money; he wasn’t looking for the bright lights and the trappings of wealth. He was interested in people on the edge of society and bringing them back into the fold. I just hope it’s drawn attention to what’s possible when someone doesn’t keep wealth for themselves.’

Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks described himself as ‘truly heartbroken’ and said:
‘Benzion Dunner was an outstanding exemplar of Jewish values and Jewish responsibility. He was a person of exceptional hesed [kindness], much of whose work was done quietly behind the scenes and was all the more impressive for that.’