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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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