It states (12:15) יָמ ִים שִׁבְעַת לַמַּח ֲנֶה מִחוּץ מ ִרְיָם וַתִּס ָּגֵר מ ִרְיָם הֵאָסֵף עַד נָסַע לֹא וְהָעָם, "Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days [when she had tzaraas]. The nation did not travel until Miriam had been readmitted to the camp." Rashi writes, "Hashem showed her this honor because of the short moment that she waited for Moshe when he was cast into the Nile river, as it says (Shemos 2:4), אחותו ותתצב לו יעשה מה לדעה מרחוק, 'His sister stood at a distance to see what would become of him."
Darkei Musar (Shemos) asks that, as it appears to us, Miriam did something that any sister would do. If a brother is thrown into the Nile, a sister will stand nearby to see what will happen to him. Why was Miriam rewarded for this apparently "average" deed that any sister would do? Why was she rewarded that the entire nation waited for seven days?
He answers, "Indeed, the deed that Miriam did was small, but the benefit that came from it was very great. This is because Moshe didn't want to nurse from an Egyptian woman. If Miriam weren't there, Moshe would die from hunger, chas veshalom. The redemption of Bnei Yisrael was dependent on Miriam being there. Therefore, although the deed wasn't so great, since the results of this deed were enormous, she merited a reward that all Yisrael waited for her. This is a great lesson for each person, to be cautious with his small deeds, because through it, something great might emerge."
In addition, every small deed is truly very great. As the Chovas HaLevavos (Cheshbon HaNefesh 5) writes, "Don't consider any good thing you do for Hashem – even a word or a look – to be small, because what is small in your eyes is great in Hashem's eyes. The best example of this is the sun’s rays that move one amah on earth, and in the sky, it has moved enormous distances."
Also, from a small deed, one can reach very high levels. Therefore, there really aren’t "small deeds." But even if there were "small deeds", Hashem takes into account the good that comes from the deed he did. In this instance, Miriam waited for Moshe, and this resulted in the salvation of all of Klal Yisrael.
We say in the first brachah of Shemonah Esrei הכל קונה. Toras Avos writes in the name of Rebbe Moshe of Kobrin zt'l that this means that Hashem buys and accepts every good deed we do. Even when the good deed doesn't appear so wonderful, and it might even appear minor and trivial, Hashem is הכל קונה accepts and acquires every good deed we do. Hashem is pleased with all our achievements, both large and small.
It states (Shir HaShirim 4:9) מֵע ֵ ינַיִ ךְ בְּאַחַת ...לִבַּבְת ִּנִי, "You have captivated my heart... with one of your eyes." This hints to us that even for guarding one eye, this also makes an immense nachas ruach for Hashem. It isn't perfect, but Hashem is הכל קונה, accepts and treasures every good deed we do.
It states in last week's parashah that the nesi'im donated oxen to the mishkan. Hashem told Moshe to accept the oxen, and (7:5) מוֹעֵד אֹהֶל ע ֲבֹדַת אֶת לַע ֲבֹד וְה ָיוּ, "they will be used in the service [of the Mishkan]," such as to carry the walls of the Mishkan when traveling in the desert. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 12:18) says that וְה ָיוּ means that they existed forever. לעולם קיימים שיהיו הויה להם נתן, "They were given existence so that they will survive forever." The Tana'im have various opinions on how long they existed. One view is that they were brought as korbanos in the mishkan in Gilgal, Nov, or in Givon. Another opinion is that Shlomo HaMelech sacrificed these animals in the Beis HaMikdash (five hundred years later). Reb Meir says, "Until today, the calves and oxen are still in existence. They never received a blemish (מום), they never became old, and they never broke."
The Midrash concludes with a kal v'chomer: "If the calves that had some connection with the Mishkan were given existence to live forever, Yisrael, who connect themselves to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, will certainly survive. As it states (Devarim 4:4) ואתם היום כולכם חיים אלקיכם 'בה הדבקים, 'You who cleave to Hashem your G-d are alive, all of you, this day."
Let us think about this. The animals performed a service for the Mishkan for a short time, and in this merit, they were blessed with very long lives and good health. Certainly, how great will be the reward of the people who do Hashem's service, even if it is for a short time, and even if the service is performed without knowledge (similar to the animals who didn't know what they were doing). This is because every good deed that a Yid does, the rewards, the kedushah, and the specialness of the deed are endless.
Small Deeds, Great Deeds
The mashgiach, Reb Shlomo Wolbe zt'l, told a wonderful mashal to help us appreciate the greatness of a small, good deed. During a war, military planes entering enemy territory fly at a very low altitude to avoid detection by the other country's radar system. The radar picks up planes that fly high but can’t detect low-flying planes.
The yetzer hara also has a radar system. When a Yid endeavors to do a great mitzvah, the yetzer hara immediately becomes aware of this, and tries to stop him. However, when a person performs a "small deed," the yetzer hara is unaware of it, and it doesn't appear on its radar; therefore, the yetzer hara won't stop him.
Therefore, it is worthwhile to take on "small" kabbalos because those are easier to keep and fly under the radar.
