By Brendan Browne
Far from the corporate greed and scandal of the Enrons and WorldComs of the business world, there is a small Forest Hills shoe store that shines as an example of compassion and generosity.
Udi Maor and his wife Nava run the Blue Elephant children’s shoe store at 107-21 71st Rd. with the type of kindness that is all too rare in the business community, donating several hundred pair of shoes to local charities every year.
“It really came as an instinct because we looked for places to donate because we had excess inventory,” said Maor, who immigrated to the United States from Israel in 1983. “My parents always gave to charity so it’s just a natural extension of culture and education we got from home.”
Maor opened the shop in 1993, naming it after the Elephant shoe store in Tel Aviv he knew as a child and adding his favorite color. Soon after business got underway, he began looking for a place to donate shoes that sat on his shelves too long.
Although a few synagogues and churches accepted the donations, the shoes were often sold at bazaars instead of going directly to kids in need.
When Maor met former Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, now deputy borough president, in 1997, she suggested several charities that might be interested in taking the shoes.
“It’s a wonderful gesture because the shoes are wonderful. It’s what you would call a mitzvah,” said Koslowitz, referring to the Hebrew word that means good deed. “It’s just a wonderful thing when you see the faces on the people who receive the shoes.”
Since meeting Koslowitz, Maor has donated to the Salvation Army homeless shelter in Briarwood, Italian Charities, a Forest Hills orphanage, the Queens Jewish Community Council, Catholic Charities, and other organizations.
Most recently, Maor donated more than 200 pairs of shoes to the Schneider Children’s Hospital in Floral Park, which he in his humility hesitantly confirmed was merchandise worth a few thousand dollars.
Maor credited his upbringing in Tel Aviv and his religion for teaching him to be charitable. He said he tries to loosely adhere to the ancient Jewish tradition which urges followers to give 10 percent of their earnings to charity.
“I’m trying to do the best I can. Sometimes it’s enough just to talk someone and the opportunity to give once in a while is really nice.,” Maor said.
Reach reporter Brendan Browne by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 155.
