Earlier this week, I had a very painful conversation with someone in the area, who was pouring out their heart to me about their very difficult situation. Terrible poverty, tremendous struggles, huge medical challenges and the worst of all, the feeling that they are alone in their pain and struggles. In their words "we may be the only people like this in the community".
I have visited or had meetings with several people over the last few weeks, who live alone and feel alone, face huge challenges, and are carrying so much pain in their hearts.
Indeed, we live in a world where it may not be obvious how many are struggling just beneath the surface, or are "alone" in this world, in how they feel or sometimes quite literally, yet sadly it is out there, and not in the smallest of numbers.
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Tomorrow, we read the portion that describes some of the first challenges and tests of faith, that Abraham and Sarah faced. These included, traveling to the land of the unknown (Israel), arriving there and encountering a famine, going down to Egypt to find food, then Sarah being taken captive and then more challenges.
In the middle of all of this, we read about the city of Sodom, which was known for its cruelty and lack of kindness to others, who were known for going as far as punishing those who did kindness to others.
Then on the opposite end of the spectrum, we read about Abraham and Sarah, and the tent that they opened to help the travelers including those that they didn't even know, but knew that they needed help. We also read about the influence they began having on society to believe in monotheism and that we are all here as part of a greater purpose and common goal.
Abraham and Sarah were not yet done with their ten tests of faiths, but already they behavior shone and became a light unto others, both in terms of their faith in G-d and belief in others, and how by their living example, kindness was a pillar of everything that they did.
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Towards the end of the portion, G-d instructs Abraham to go outside his tent and look upwards to heaven and count the stars. G-d then tells him, that your descendants will as numerous as the stars of the heaven, a truly beautiful and powerful blessing.
The stars are always there, but it is especially during the darkness, when we can appreciate their light, when one can even navigate life's journeys, by using them as navigation tools.
Indeed the blessing to Abraham and Sarah, wasn't just about numbers, it was also about their descendants role in being shining lights, especially in the darkness, to help navigate and chart the journeys and challenges of history.
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The original journey of Lech Lecha, that was begun so many thousands of years ago by Abraham and Sarah, is continuing through us in 2025. Their values of kindness, charity but also confronting evil, are pillars of who we are today, as we seek to find ways to continue to be the stars of Abraham, in illuminating the world with the light of kindness, empathy and Tzedaka and Mitzvot.
One practical Jewish tradition, surrounds the Mitzvah of Tzedaka, which has so many ways and methods it can be done. Yet our tradition teaches us that it is also something we should practice daily, including by putting coins in a charity box each and every day.
Many have the custom to place a coin in a charity box before they pray each morning, or a little extra before lighting Shabbat Candles. Additionally having a charity box in one's home or office in a visible place, where it can then be used daily, is considered a very important actionable tradition in our faith.
As the commentaries point out, small daily giving, trains us to think in terms of giving to others, and gets us used to taking a moment to make a difference to others each and every day.
In fact, even a poor person, is obliged by the Halacha and Jewish teachings, to find a way to do their own version of Tzedaka, as giving and helping those in need, is so central to who we are and what we live for.
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On this note, I would like to take a moment to thank Gail Mcnair and the volunteers of the Chessed Committee who have been helping reach out to those facing challenges, and I thank all those who are helping us with the Thanksgiving Dinner Project, and enabling us as a community to make a small difference, to those who could use the friendly and personal touch of care.
If you know of someone who can benefit from this, please let us know. There are more details below.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel