Life Commitment

“All that Hashem has said, we will do and we will listen.” (Shemos 24:7)

When Bnei Yisrael said “Naaseh v’nishma,” a Heavenly Voice proclaimed: “Who revealed this secret to My children? This is how the angels respond.”

The Gemara (Shabbos 88a) tells of a Tzedoki who said to Rava, “You Jews are an impetuous nation who put your mouth before your ears. You should have listened first to see if you could follow the instructions of the Torah and only then accepted the Torah.”

Rava answered, “We Jews are a wholesome people.” Rashi explains that since our relationship with Hashem is based on complete trust and love, we’re ready to do anything He requests. (Rabbi Avraham Kahn, Torah Attitude)

I’m in middle of spring cleaning in the dead of winter. This past lockdown has me digging into dark corners of my closet, pulling out boxes and items I haven’t looked at in years. One dusty box is labeled “Projects.” Inside’s an unfinished embroidery with delicate lavender flowers, designed to match my childhood bedroom of years ago. There are decoupage supplies and notes for a novel, painstakingly handwritten. Old, old.