613 Mitzvahs

Here is a good one… the term mitzvah has also come to express an act of human kindness.   In the Jewish Religion, it is a commandment of a good deed and we are asked to fulfill 613 Mitzvot in our lifetime.

My wife, Paula, was in a grocery store last year.  She was standing in line behind a woman in the check-out line.  She had watched this woman for quite some time struggle to get around the store with an identical set of five year old twin girls, one with cerebral palsy, a baby under one, and a hyperactive boy about 7.  The woman was doing her best to gather her groceries, diapers, and paper products while pushing the cart with the baby in it, keeping track of the boy, and pulling one of the twins in a wheelchair while the other one walked along side.  After a short time, the boy's grocery store meter ran out.  He couldn’t contain himself anymore and he started to act up.  The woman calmly moved toward the checkout counter just ahead of Paula.

As the clerk rang up the order and the woman gathered her money and food stamps, she realized that she didn't have enough to pay for her groceries and started to tell the clerk what she had to leave behind.  People in the back of the line were getting frustrated and anxious about how long she was taking to decide. Paula signaled to the clerk silently that she would pay for the woman’s groceries.  The clerk said simply that he made a mistake, took some of the money and food stamps the woman offered, and gave her all of the food and products she needed.   The woman was so thankful and occupied with her four children, she did not realize what was happening.    Another person helped to bag the items and offered to push the cart out to her car so she could better manage the twins.  He gently lifted the seven year old into the cart and gave him “a ride” to the parking lot.  Paula paid for the items along with her groceries without the mother ever knowing a stranger made it possible for her to take her groceries home.  

This story has stuck with me and shows how one small deed can make a huge difference in the lives of others - whether it is a phone call, a visit, giving up your seat on a bus, or a gift.   One of the key ingredients to a happy life is performing these acts of kindness.  Maybe this is why Mitzvot is at the core of the Jewish faith.

How will you make someone's life better this week?  What will your "acts of human kindness" be? 

Shalom

Holly Issenberg Bat Mitzvah on April 13, 2013 - Board Presentation by Tim Cope

Holly, one of the nice parts of being on the Bema during your Bat Mitzvah is watching how proud your parents are of you as you led the service today.  You did an outstanding job.

When we spoke earlier this week, you mentioned that you are the youngest in your family of cousins to have a B'Nai Mitzvah.  You mentioned how you were motivated by seeing them on their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  Holly, I am sure that you will be motivation to others today.

You mentioned that you are proud to learn and understand Hebrew.  Listening to you today, you clearly learned it very well. 

I asked you what excites you about becoming a Bat Mitzvah.  You said that you are excited to read Torah at other B'Nai Mitzvah's, to attend Chai School, & to be an active member of YJ.  With your mom YJ advisor, you will be able to keep an eye on her.

Holly, I believe that a full life comes with being involved and giving.  With all you do for others, you will have a very full life.

Congratulations on doing a wonderful job today.  We are proud to have you as a member of our Adult congregation.

On behalf of the congregation, I have three presentations for you.  First is your own High Holiday Prayer Book.  Second is a $250 gift certificate to be used toward a NIFTY trip to Israel.  Finally is a certificate of your Bat Mitzvah.  The inscription reads:

“In becoming a Bat Mitzvah Holly Issenberg has accepted the privileges and responsibilities of being a Jew: lifelong Torah study and the keeping of Mitzvot; Shabbat, holy-day and life-cycle observances; participation in the life of the synagogue, the Jewish community and Israel; dedication to Tikun Olam, the perfection of our world.”

April 3, 2013

Paula and I lost a dear friend, Rob LaClair, last week at the age of 52.  The funeral was an incredible tribute to him.  It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support for his family.

The thing that became clear to me as I listened to the conversations over the last week and at the service celebrating his life, is that he gave so much to others.  Everyone told a story of how he helped them  or how he made them laugh.  This in of itself isn’t unusual, although it does illustrate the point that we get back much more than we give.

What struck me listening to the eulogy was that Rob had three parts of his life in balance.  He always took time for himself.  He gave of himself in so many ways to help people and organizations.  He had clarity about his personal mission – where he wanted to make a difference in our community.  Having these three in balance allowed him to accomplish more in 52 years than many of us will in our lifetime.

So as you begin another day, week, year – take time for yourself, figure out where you want to make a difference in our world, and help others wherever you can. 

I am sad for our loss and thankful for all that he has given to so many of us.