Until last week, I had no idea who Bethenny Frankel was. I don’t watch Reality TV. But this woman has my attention now. So far, she chartered not 1, not 10, but 30 planes, filled them with supplies and delivered them to Puerto Rico. FEMA take notes!

x Thank you @msnbc & @thomasaroberts for spreading the word #BStrong #thisisacrisis #100percent #PR911 for the full interview visit www.facebook.com/bethennyfrankel A post shared by Bethenny Frankel (@bethennyfrankel) on Oct 9, 2017 at 4:58pm PDT

She estimates that is about 3 million dollars worth of supplies. FREE. Donated. Loaded on to the plane, flown down to Puerto Rico, and taken off the plane. She is now ramping up to get 20 million dollars worth of relief to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. She is moving into cargo planes and working with Carnival Cruise Line.

She may be Wonder Woman, but she isn’t doing this alone. It really does take a village. She has gotten help from the following groups:

Global Empowerment Mission

WeDoBetter.Org

and her own nonprofit

B Strong Disaster Relief

She did mention at least one person who helped her (YaY Nicole from Dallas!!!!) but I wanted to broadcast the groups she mentioned in case anyone is looking for a group to donate to that is making a real difference.

Here’s what makes this worth sharing far and wide. I confess I would not have thought of this woman as being a resource. I would have dismissed her as another phony Reality TV air head wrapped up in her own little world of privilege. I would have been wrong, wrong, wrong!!! I am surprised, and I am humbled by this angel of light.

Bethenny Frankel is changing lives in Puerto Rico, not because she is Puerto Rican (she’s a Jewish girl from New York), not because she is building a brand, not because she is looking for a tax dodge, not because she is running a scam. She is doing it for the noblest of reasons. She saw a need she could fill. She saw people suffering and she marshaled considerable resources to make a difference. What she is engaged in is known as “Tikkun” (תיקו), literally “healing the world.” That is one of the most noble things anyone can ever hope to do in this life.

Here’s the life lesson.

We rail constantly against those who look down on people because they are less fortunate. We have to be equally mindful of looking down on people because they are MORE fortunate. Bethenny Frankel’s example should be like a bell in the night waking us to our own prejudices. Discounting this force of nature means we ignore a valuable ally who can and does make the world a better place. For me, I am going to ask myself where else I have made that mistake, so I don’t repeat it in the future.

The last few weeks have been very painful for me. Watching the most beloved places of my childhood (Anguilla, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Puerto Rico) get obliterated while people nominally in charge did nothing tears a hole in my heart that fills with bitterness. But Bethenny heals that pain. She inspires me to be better. She reminds me of something Mr. Rogers used to say to kids when they were facing similar times.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

What Bethenny Frankel is doing is not simply “charity.” It is "Tzedakah," (צדקה) the Hebrew word for the acts we describe as "charity" in English. However, tzedakah is very different from charity. The word "charity" suggests benevolence and generosity. It’s a magnanimous act for the benefit of the poor and needy by one with wealth and power. The word "tzedakah," however, is derived from Hebrew roots meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. Tzedakah is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is an act of justice and righteousness. It is not a gift, but the performance of a duty. More than the giving of material comfort, it is giving the less fortunate their due as human beings.

Compare this example to fellow New Yorker, Donald Trump, who actually owns a FLEET of planes (including a 757) which he has left parked the whole time and there is no question how Bethenney’s example highlights the failure of his character, and throws the pure greed of the Trump family into stark relief. Compare her effective delivery of millions of dollars in aid to the completely ineffective delivery of even basic necessities by FEMA and she humiliates this administration at all levels.

It’s clear that Bethenny’s parents raised her right (* see note in update). If Donald Trump was half the man Bethenny’s father was, he’d be twice the man he is today. Mike Pence can beat his chest and proclaim his faith as loudly as he likes, but “faith without works is a dead faith.” (James 2:26) Ivanka and Jared can pretend to embrace the teachings of the Torah, but it is clear they are hypocrites when compared to this righteous woman.

In Hebrew, Bethenny is a Tzaddik (צדיק), a righteous person. Javanka, in contrast, would be considered a Shanda (בושה), a disgrace. May God bless Javanka with the realization they must do better. Be like Bethenny. I’m not even going to waste the keystrokes talking about Ivanka’s daddy. He’s meshugenah.