Dear Friends,
Moms and Dads: you can all relate to this -- "You said you were going to take us to Rita's ......" (followed by a woebegone look). Or, "Please know that my door is always open and you are more than welcome to come over any time..." How about, "If there is anything at all I can ever do for you -- don't hesitate to ask!" You know, we all get invitations like this, that sound so sincere and sociably acceptable, but what happens when you take these people up on their offers?
Here is the bottom line: we say and promise so many things throughout the day that perhaps we forget how many people listen to our words. How many people actually digest those words and what effect does their meaning have on them? The recipient may have heard the words and absorbed them... and then, nothing happened. It can be a huge, disappointing blow.
In this week's Torah portion, before his death Moses cautions the leaders, because they make many promises. Even as parents, when we say that we are going to take our kids to Rita’s, they remember and wait for it to happen. To you, some comments may have been unimportant and you didn’t put much weight on them, but others did. As parents and as business associates, a word is a word; if you tell a vendor the check is in the mail when it isn't, you stand to lose not only a business deal but trust.
When the Ethics of Our Fathers discusses three great qualities it says among the Crown of Torah, the Crown of Priesthood, and the Crown of Kingship, "....but the crown of good name surpasses them all." A good name and a good reputation is all we have!
When I saw the smiles and the children’s faces at camp today, I was reminded that we said we were going to give all 130 children a fantastic, awesome and safe time at Summer of the Arts. We meant it! Another 2 weeks to go…
And now, I have to run -- my daughter just said I promised the kids Slurpees -- did I? Trust me, I will fulfill this promise or else.
wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Fishel