By Rabbi Uriel Vigler
Whenever someone gets an aliyah on Rosh Hashanah in our shul, I ask them to make a commitment for the coming year. It can be financial, a mitzvah, or something personal. There's no checklist; it just needs to be meaningful to that person.
One person-let's call him Yankel-has made a commitment every year for at least the 20 years I've known him. This year, I was curious what he would come up with.
"I'm going to say Modeh Ani every morning," he declared.
Amazing! Think about how conditioned we are to reach for our phones the moment we wake up to check texts, emails, meetings, and pictures. But here's Yankel saying, "No. I'm going to pause as soon as I open my eyes and say twelve simple but important words: 'Modeh ani lefanecha... I thank You, living and enduring King, for returning my soul to me. Great is Your faithfulness."
Thank You, G-d, for giving me another day.
It takes less than 30 seconds, but it sets the tone for the entire day.
Then another guy-let's call him Jack-came up for an aliyah.
I knew Jack had a difficult year and was incredibly busy. So I thought, let me not ask for too much.
"Jack, I want you to make one commitment. Just one. And ideally, do it before Yom Kippur."
"What is it?"
"Put on Tefillin one time. Just once! Any day between now and Yom Kippur."
He agreed.
Two days later, Jack emailed me: "Rabbi, remember I made a commitment on Rosh Hashanah to put on Tefillin? I did it! And I loved it so much that I'm going to do it every morning."
Wait. What?
He continued: "And I'm also going to say Modeh Ani every morning."
A huge smile broke across my face.
The guy I asked to do one mitzvah once had decided to do two every morning! And so far, he's been doing it.
Now I'm trying to push it one step further: "Jack, why don't you come to our daily minyan?" Maybe he will, maybe he won't. But he's already come out a winner with two huge new mitzvahs.
It's easy to think we have to completely change our lives to make meaningful change. But that can feel so overwhelming that we don't take any steps at all.
The key is to just start. With one thing. Anything.
One small mitzvah can open the door to the next one, and the next. Suddenly, without even planning it, your morning and then your whole day-can look different.
So where to start?
Take 30 seconds in the morning to thank G-d for another day. Say Modeh Ani. Remember who you are and Who gave you another day.
It may set you up for a more intentional day.
But it may also lead to a spiritual climb you never imagined!
Rabbi Vigler codirects Chabad Israel Center of the Upper East Side in New York City with his wife Shevi.