T orah P ortion
The Bigness of Little Things
BY RABBI GREGORY MARX
Parshat Mishpatim
MY WIFE AND I have not
been able to travel, go out for
dinner, see friends, even be
with our own children and
family members. I suspect that
each of us have experienced the
same painful isolation. When
I go through my photos on
the computer, I realize that so
many of the big events have
just been put on hold.

This is, of course, a minor pain
when compared to the massive
unemployment, economic
downturn and increase of suicides
in recent months. COVID takes
life both directly and indirectly.

So how do we deal with
all this emotional pain? What
wisdom does out tradition
offer to those who just “can’t
take it anymore?”
The solution is doing things
small. In our home, to cope
with the new reality, we have
created mini vacations, set up
special dinners in our home
and, of course, set up virtual
gatherings. It is small in
comparison to the big events of
Gluck Continued from Page 16
cycle haunting those in the latter
group, Twerski said, one must
give them the tools to approach
life and its sometimes daunting
circumstances in a healthier way.

But perhaps one of the
most incredible lessons I
learned from Twerski came
during a Zoom conference
for high-level mental health
professionals, community
leaders and philanthropists
that took place approximately
two years ago. One participant
averred that a person can only
be helped once they have hit
rock bottom. When I disagreed
wholeheartedly, another
person jumped in, saying that
Twerski had said exactly that
26 FEBRUARY 11, 2021
CAN DL E L IGHTIN G
Feb. 12
Feb. 19
last year, but in celebrating the
small stuff we learn a critical
lesson of Torah. Little things
are more important than the
big things.

Consider that last week’s
Torah portion described the
most decisive events in Jewish
history, that shining movement
when our ancestors stood at the
foot of a quaking and smoking
Mount Sinai and heard the
majestic Ten Commandments
proclaimed amidst thunder
and lightning. The moment is
grand in tone and content.

From Sinai, we learned
fundamental teachings of our
faith, absolute monotheism,
uncompromising opposi-
tion to idolatry, the holiness
of Shabbat, the sanctity of
human life and marriage, and
the inviolable rights of our
neighbors. By contrast, so many of the
laws, which are proclaimed
in this Torah portion, appear
almost trivial, small in compar-
ison. They deal with wounds
inflicted during arguments,
the treatment of slaves, oxen
that gore, livestock which graze
in a neighbor’s field, gossiping.

Our sages wisely comment
that these laws are just as holy
as the Ten Commandments.

They are no less significant, no
less sacred.

The rabbis decreed this to
counter two prevailing trends
in the ancient world.

First, in the Temple in
Jerusalem, the order of daily
worship included the recitation
of the Ten Commandments
(Mishnah Tamid
5:1). However, after the rise of
Christianity, the reading of the
Ten Commandments at daily
worship services was discon-
tinued. The early Christians
contended that only these
commandments were given at
Sinai and none other.

T herefore , t he ot her
laws had no divine sanction
(Pa lestinian
Ta l m u d ,
Berakkhot 3c). To deemphasize
the Ten Commandments, the
sages removed them from the
regular order of worship, and
then augmented the authority
of the “little laws” by explic-
itly claiming for them Sinaitic
origin. All of the mitzvot
are binding, not just the big
and lofty.

Second, our sages knew
what we have learned again in
COVID. The little things are
what make life meaningful.

Life is lived around the kitchen
table, on walks with our children
in the beauty and splendor of
nature, and, of course, in the
honest conversations between
life partners. When we can’t
enjoy the big moments of life, like
flying to a romantic destination,
then make the little things big.

Find intimacy wherever you are.

Live and love and laugh because
we don’t need to go to New York
for a great night out. We can find
joy in our own homes, enjoying
the simple pleasures we used to
take for granted.

George Eliot
in “Middlemarch” wrote about
the power of little people doing
little things, “But the effect of
her being on those around her
was incalculably diffusive: for
the growing good of the world
is partly dependent on unhis-
toric acts; and that things are
not so ill with you and me as
they might have been, is half
owing to the number who lived
faithfully a hidden life, and rest
in unvisited tombs.”
in one of his books. Wasting no
time, Twerski explained that
while he had made that state-
ment 30 years ago, it no longer
applied in today’s world, where
hitting rock bottom too often
means death.

That was vintage Twerski.

He could balance Torah,
medical knowledge and
practical life skills while still
being able to adapt his expertise
and advice to changing reali-
ties. I have tried to model my
own approach at Amudim after
the example set by Twerski.

When it has sometimes seemed
awkward and embarrassing
to do an about-face, I remind
myself that if Twerski could
publicly change his mind, I
could, too.

T h rou g hout my l i fe ,
whenever I hit a speed bump,
I knew I could always count on
Twerski. I treasure the moments
I spent with him, particularly
the time he sat me down at
a family wedding and told
me that he truly believed that
Amudim’s work over the past
several years to promote aware-
ness and destigmatize mental
health challenges had surpassed
anything he had done in his
lifetime. Surely it was an
exaggeration and was meant as
a form of encouragement, but
it was meaningful and touched
my heart all the same.

That was Twerski. Always
uplifting. Always inspiring.

I remember the times when
people would try to convince
him to give his stamp of
approval for one organization
over another and he would
have none of it, saying only,
“I do what is best for Klal
Yisroel. Don’t get me involved
in politics and games.”
During his 90 years on this
earth, Twerski made a tremen-
dous impression as a Torah
scholar, a psychiatrist, a rabbi,
a clinician and a mentor, a
man whose sage advice was a
godsend to so many, empow-
ering individuals and families
and giving them strength even
during their darkest moments.

His ability to integrate his
seemingly boundless knowl-
edge of mental health with an
equally vast ocean of Torah
values was unparalleled,
and even with his incredible
erudition, he had the ability
to inspire every person — his
JEWISH EXPONENT
5:15 p.m.

5:24 p.m.

The little act, the little task
performed regularly and faith-
fully by little people, this is
what gives tone, content and
character to a society.

In her darkness, Helen
Keller saw a shining truth, “I
long to accomplish a great and
noble task, but it is my chief
duty and joy to accomplish
humble tasks as though they
were great and noble ... For
the world is moved along, not
only by the mighty shoves of its
heroes, but also by the aggre-
gate of tiny pushes of each
honest worker.”
In doing little things may we
find both greatness and joy. l
Rabbi Gregory Marx is the senior
rabbi at Congregation Beth Or
in Maple Glen. The Board of
Rabbis is proud to provide diverse
perspectives on Torah commentary
for the Jewish Exponent. The
opinions expressed in this column
are the author’s own and do not
reflect the view of the Board of
Rabbis. kindness, humility and sensi-
tivity shining with every word
and on every page.

Despite his many profes-
sional accomplishments, I can’t
help but remember Twerski as
someone who spent his days and
nights sowing seeds of happi-
ness. As I close my eyes, the
words and notes of his iconic
“Hoshia Es Amecha” echo in my
mind, a fitting tribute to a man
who dedicated his life to making
the world a better place. l
Rabbi Zvi Gluck is the CEO of
Amudim, an organization dedicated
to helping abuse victims and those
suffering with addiction within
the Jewish community. He has
been heavily involved in crisis
intervention for 21 years. This piece
was first published by JTA.

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