Shabbat Gathering: Heeding the call.

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

It seems like every week, a call for help goes out from our synagogue for help. There are people who need meals and rides. There are people who are sitting shiva and need our support and solidarity. Food is needed for a potluck. People need to help cleanup after an oneg. Readers are needed for Torah services. And there are times when it's important to be a shomer overnight at a funeral home or make a minyan for kaddish. These are the volunteer opportunities that a synagogue needs filled just to be a synagogue.

My buddy, Joe.

My best friend from college is Joe. We could always count on each other to be accomplices in whatever mischief we were making. We lived together for a couple of years way back when. Joe lives in Denver now and we chat about twice a week.

Since we graduated, Joe's become a Quaker and I found my soul at Sinai. We've both become more religious since those halcyon days on campus. And we compare notes and teach each other more about our faiths.

The last time we chatted, the word "mitzvot" came up. Joe and his wife decided to do something especially generous for his mother-in-law. I told him he was performing a "mitzvot."

Define mitzvah

I went on to explain that the word mitzvot has a double meaning. On the one hand, it means something like doing a good deed. (Or in Joe's case, a great, big good deed.) On the other hand, it means that we are performing a commandment. In Joe's case, he is honoring his mother-in-law.

I told Joe that when someone tells me that I've done a mitzvot, I ...

Feel flattered that my good work has been noticed and spoken about out loud.
Feel nonplussed because I'm just doing what I've been instructed to do. I performed a commandment. I'm not a child who's awarded a cookie for putting on my jacket when told to.

Joe grokked what I was getting at and said it was only good manners for us to acknowledge and thank the person trying to give us a compliment. And that's true. Joe's right, of course.

So, the next time a call goes out from the synagogue for help setting up before an event or cleaning up afterwards, think about the synagogue's request. First, consider how admirable you'll feel for having done the work. Second, consider who's going to do the work if you don't. It's a mitzvah.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.