Charlie Harari
Charlie Harari said over a story. The grandchildren of a Holocaust survivor once made a grand party for their grandfathers’ ninetieth birthday. At the birthday party, each of the grandchildren brought a present to their grandfather. The grandfather was enjoying the gifts of each of his grandchildren and gave each one personal affection.
The grandchildren lined up in age order to give their presents. At the end of the line was a young child who took the present he had been holding in front of him and put it behind his back. When it was his turn, he hesitated to give it to the grandfather.
The grandfather asked him, “Why are you hesitating?”
The child responded, “I just saw how my cousin made the exact same box that I made, and I thought that you really don’t need another one, so I’m not sure if I should give it to you.”
The grandfather said, “It’s true that I just got a box, but I don’t have a box from you yet. The box that your cousin gave me is not a box from you, and therefore I’m happily waiting to get this box that you are holding for me.”
Charlie Harari said that this applies to serving Hashem. Hashem has many Yidden doing Mitzvos, yet, he wants our Mitzvos. Hashem desires, as it were, that we should do the Mitzvos. This is the connection that Hashem wants, and that He can’t get from anyone else.
It may seem at times that there are so many more people that are serving Hashem. It may even seem that they are serving Hashem better than we are. If so, then why should I bother doing Mitzvos? But this story brings us to a new understanding. We know that Hashem wants our Mitzvos, and the fact that others also do Mitzvos doesn’t undermine the value of ours.
It will allow us to properly cherish our Mitzvos. If Hashem is looking for the Mitzvah itself, then the most special one is valued and the rest is not. But since Hashem seeks to have a connection with each of us, the fact that He has a connection with one person doesn’t take away from the other. Each of us is greatly admired appreciated!
Reprinted from the Parshas Mattos-Masei 5784 email of The Weekly Vort.
