Rise & Grind
Ever wondered what the most important verse in the Torah may be? Perhaps the Ten Commandments? The Shema prayer?
A sage named Shimon Ben Pazi responded to this question by mentioning a verse from this weeks portion. The verse speaks about the daily sacrifice offered in the temple. Same sacrifice. Every day.
Really? That is the most important?
Yes, absolutely. We are in a relationship with our soul, with our Judaism, with G-d. For this relationship, and really any relationship to last long and thrive, the secret is the commitment itself. Sure there are exciting moments and high energy moments we look forward to. What makes us stay committed is the commitment itself. The rise and grind of the day to day, the ‘boring’ part is actually the most important part.
If we want our Judaism to be meaningful, if we want it to be meaningful to our children, then we have to do it consistently. Not just when it feels right or is convenient and fits into our schedule. Real lasting impact requires consistency.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Hecht