Vayishlach
– It’s the little things that matter…….
In
this week’s Parsha/Torah Portion, we read and experience Jacob’s journey back
to The Homeland of Israel after being away for 20+ years with his uncle.
The
story goes something like this…..Jacob lead his family and their possessions on
their journey back and crossed the River Yabok, and The Torah details how Jacob
was alone, AFTER he returned back over the river…. Why would he leave his family
to yet return back? Once he returned, he found himself in somewhat of a
confrontation (“wrestling”) with a man over night! That alone might be a deterrent for many, but not for Jacob!
The
Talmud teaches us, that he realized that a few small jugs were forgotten and
left behind. So, he hiked back to retrieve
the jugs/bottles. Seems so secondary, infinitesimal,
and exhausting, but the detail of him returning and retracing his steps to get
them shows us the true value of the little things are not so little and are
truly meaningful! They were significant and mattered!
As
people, sometimes we’re in such a hurry, maybe blow someone off, and as “they
say”, we don’t stop to smell the roses! It’s the smelling of the roses that
actually matters!
We
must keep in mind, that it’s these “little things” that actually add up and absolutely
matter in our lives! It matters in our
personal and professional relations and manner.
You
saying “Good Morning”, even muffled by your mask to the store clerk at Kroger
or Safeway, just might make their day, and it took you all of 4 seconds to make
the effort and hopefully they felt your smile, or picking a single flower and sharing it with a loved one can brighten
their day, or maybe change their attitude and yours, as that is the true
Mitzvah/Blessing of taking and making the time and sincere effort. Both you
giving and he/she receiving are both Mitzvahs/Blessings.
I kindly challenge
each and everybody to reach out to a person, or persons and let them know you’re
thinking about them, be it text, video call, or an old fashioned, yet extremely
effective phone call!
As a
community, lets allow ourselves to honestly pay attention and take time for “the
little things”, as they aren’t so little, and just one effort does indeed make
a BIG difference….I care about YOU......Think I’ll go facetime my folks!
Shabbat
Shalom,
Rabbi
Barry
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