If only I had known…

Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

Yosef, it appeared, was in deep trouble. Even as he approached his brothers, they were planning to eliminate him. Suddenly, the voice of Reuven, the eldest brother, was heard. “We dare not harm him directly,” he said. “Instead let us throw him in a pit.”

The Torah attests that Reuven’s motive was a good one. He intended to come back later to retrieve Yosef and return him to their father.

Says the Medrash: Had Reuven realized that his good intentions would forever be recorded in the Torah, he would have done much more. If he had realized the importance of his deed, maintains the Medrash, he surely would have “carried Yosef on his shoulders, to bring him back to their father Yakov.”

Every generation has its special mitzvah opportunities. In our time, acts of kindness and charity, as well as acts that promote Jewish Education and Torah study, are mitzvos that address the challenges of the generation. Especially in the current challenging financial climate, it is important that our support of goodness not waiver. It is precisely in such times, it seems, that people and organizations will rise or fall based on the goodwill of individuals. In such times, a critical donation in a timely fashion can literally provide life-saving sustenance to a struggling family.

The lesson of Reuven’s act is that he did well, but had he realized the importance of his act, he would have done so much more. The same is true for all of us. We do much good. But, if we would realize the drama associated with good deeds we would surely do much more.

Performing goodness at critical times is a concept that is not foreign to us. In fact, it is the story of Chanukah. The Jews who survived the battles had virtually nothing. But, they did have one jug of oil. They could have made excuses for not lighting the menorah. Instead, with a sense of urgency, they lit the menorah in the best way they could, not knowing what the morrow would bring. Perhaps they had the sense that the eyes and “cameras” of history were trained upon them to see what they would do. They knew that what they did would make all the difference for generations.

And so, despite the times, the Jews of the time of Chanukah lifted their spirits. With a sense of vision, they performed a great act of goodness and faith. Through it, they acquired eternity, and so can we.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos and a Happy Chanukah!

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