A New Resolution

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

When Moshe was looking for a successor, G-d advised him that his student, Yehoshua, was the person of choice. Although there were many eligible people for the job, Yehoshua’s devotion until that point made him most suited for the position.

“Yehoshua never left the Tent.” “The Tent,” refers to the communal study hall in which Moshe taught Torah. Yehoshua was always there. He studied diligently himself, and he also assisted others in their studies. Yehoshua was the one who set up the benches before the lecture so that the study tent should look attractive and welcoming.

Although Yehoshua was a very special person, there is a particular comment of praise that is most noteworthy. “G-d saw that the words of Torah were very dear to Yehoshua.” Even after all that he went through in years of dedicated service, “the words of Torah were dear to him.”

So often in life, we display enormous dedication to children, to elderly parents, or to the community, and then something happens that rubs us the wrong way. With time, what once was an act of dedication, may end up as a burden which we resent. Although the relationship started as devotion, when challenged we tend to lose the devotional excitement. Is there a perspective that would enable us to emulate Yehoshua? After years of dedicated service, the task at hand was still dear to him.

Picture the scene of a devoted husband who always brings his wife a dozen roses on her birthday. If his wife had been born in June, or if they lived in LA, this wouldn’t be so remarkable. But they happen to live in Northeast United States, and she happens to have been born at the end of January. On most years his gift isn’t hard to come by. He can easily go out and purchase the flowers. Even if he wouldn’t feel well one year, he could always order the flowers to be delivered.

But what happens during the year of a blizzard. We would certainly declare him absolved of his act of devotion. But the husband sneaks out of the house anyway, and figures out a way to buy the dozen roses. He walks into the house panting and cold from his ordeal. As he hands the flowers to his surprised wife, her astonishment gives way to giggles, and we can actually hear their laughter as it fills their home with joy.

Perhaps the greatest awareness in any devotion is to remember that the harder it is to maintain the devotion, the greater is the affirmation of love. When a parent wakes up for a baby during the night- for the fourth time- it isn’t merely a responsibility. A new affirmation of love that could not be said the first three times is being stated most clearly on the fourth. Experts recommend a giggle or at least a forced smile when the going gets difficult. It is at that critical moment that devotion becomes a labor of love.

This coming week we will experience Rosh Hashana, the celebration of the Jewish New Year. It is proper for us to look for a resolution that we can implement in our lives. But resolution isn’t merely about resolve to do new mitzvos. Resolution is also about the way we look at the mitzvos we already do. Our emotional attitude can enhance the value of the endeavors we are already involved in.

So, as we enter the New Year, learn from Yehoshua to treasure the mitzvos you are involved in. When you go the extra mile, don’t just do it out of responsibility. Do it as an affirmation of love. Do it with a giggle.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos, and a happy, healthy, and productive New Year.

© 2014 by TEACH613™