I went to drop off some items of clothing at a Brooklyn dry cleaner. “You haven’t been here in a while,” the owner said to me, as I walked in. I was taken aback. How does he remember me? I live five hours away in Clinton, New York. I likely hadn’t been there since last summer.
“You have a good memory,” I replied.
“We still have your shirts,” he continued.
Now I was sure he had mistaken me for someone else. “I haven’t been here in at least one full year! You must be thinking of someone else.”
“No, no,” he insisted. He climbed up to a high shelf and reached for a bag. I waited patiently.
He was spot on! “Didy Waks. Pickup on 7/8/2022,” the stapled tag read.
“You have a really good memory!” He corrected me, “this is my job!” I came out with a great lesson. And five shirts I had thought were lost!
There is a debate among the Sages as to what the most all-encompassing verse in the Torah is.
One says, “Shema Yisrael.” It carries in it the fundamental belief in one G-d. Another says, “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” A third says, “The first lamb you shall sacrifice in the morning and the second lamb you shall sacrifice in the afternoon.” This refers to the daily offerings in the Temple.
How on earth is this verse even in the running for most all-encompassing verse in the Torah, let alone the winner? Indeed, the Midrash citing these opinions states that the third opinion is the correct one!
Many people live for the big moments. I remember as a kid, a friend shared that he lived his life, “always thinking of the next big and exciting thing coming up.” It’s not a bad idea. There’s always something. A vacation, a holiday, an event. But it is missing the point. G-d is not just in the holidays. Fun is not just in vacation. Meaning is not found just at epiphanous moments.
The real test is in the every single day. Did you bring the morning and evening sacrifice? It’s repetitive, it almost feels mundane. But it’s really a sacrifice to G-d.
We can be like the dry clean owner, whose real name is Tzadik, not for naught. If we are focused on the beauty of the mundane, then remembering every detail isn’t impressive; it makes absolute sense!
We all remember where we were when some major world event took place. Mr. Tzadik remembers every face that comes through his (very busy) dry cleaner, because they’re all the most important thing to him.
It’s natural to look forward to the exciting and extraordinary. And the change in pace. That’s why G-d gave us the gift of Shabbat. And all the holidays. We just need to remember to treat every person as we would Moses. And every opportunity to do a mitzva as the greatest one we have ever faced. With this understanding, it makes sense that this verse about daily sacrifices encompasses both its contenders.
It’s a tall order. My trip to the Clean Spot Organic Dry Cleaner reminded me that it’s possible!
Rabbi Didy and Devorah Waks direct Chabad of Clinton, NY, serving the Jewish community of Hamilton College
