Closing Message - Rabbanit Bracha
View video version here.
Show respect. Don’t ignore others.
This is a message we glean from the following pasuk in Parashat Yitro [Ex 19:8]
וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל-הָעָם יַחְדָּו וַיֹּאמְרוּ, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה; וַיָּשֶׁב מֹשֶׁה אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הָעָם, אֶל-ה'.
“All the people answered together, and said: 'All that the LORD has spoken we will do.' And Moshe reported the words of the people to God.”
The Mekhilta d’Rabi Yishmael, a Midrashic compendium on the book of Exodus, asks the following question:"Why did Moshe have to report back to God? Isn’t God all-knowing?"
The Mekhilta explains that the Torah is teaching us derekh eretz - proper behavior. Moshe did not say: “God obviously knows what the Israelites said; therefore, I do not need to report back”. Instead, he went back to God and gave a full report.
Moshe models for us what kavod (respect) and derekh eretz (proper behavior) are. Moshe showed respect by not ignoring God and reporting back.
This lesson of kavod v’derekh eretz - properly respecting the other - was powerfully brought to life for me when my colleague and friend related this story about her experience when receiving the COVID vaccine.
She was very impressed by the organization of the vaccination process, as well as the politeness and patience shown to her along the way. However, she did not allow herself to simply be carried along from stop to stop from the first greeter, through the intake, and the administration of the vaccine.
Rather, she took the time to pause, greet each person, and say: “How are you doing today”? Each time the person was caught by surprise and brightened in response.
When my friend sat down to do the intake interview, she was asked: “How are you?” She responded by saying “I’m good. But I want to know how you are doing today”. The woman stopped what she was doing and even from behind her mask it was clear that she was smiling. “How am I doing today?” She thought for a moment and replied, “I’m good!”
My friend told me, “All the people I met that day are essential workers. They are performing the same task over and over, day in and day out, for weeks and possibly months. Each one deserves our acknowledgement and our respect.”
We don’t need to wait for a great statesman, a learned professor, or a celebrity to appear for us to offer kavod (respect) and derekh eretz (proper behavior). May we have the understanding and awareness to appreciate all of those who are deserving of our praise and our respect.
Reminder to all to take good care of ourselves and each other. Try to do something specific today that strengthens you, and something else that strengthens someone else.
