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| Doing a mitzvah doesn't have to be like pulling teeth! |
There was a time and place when people cared more. Did more. Their daily observance was infused with inspiration and deep emotion. We, too, must learn from them. We must learn to follow in our ancestors' ways in our fulfillment of the Torah and mitzvos. If we care enough, want enough, we can do the same.
A Russian Jew once struck up a conversation with his seatmate on a bus in Eretz Yisroel, and in the course of the conversation, described himself as a Yom Kippur Jew. His seatmate immediately thought that he most probably meant that he went to shul only once a year on Yom Kippur. However, the Russian Jew explained to his new friend that he was referring to something else.
He was a soldier in the Russian army following WWII. In order to avoid serving on Yom Kippur, every year he would feign illness. Each Yom Kippur, he would show up at the army doctor and moan over his "toothache," and beg to have his tooth pulled. After his tooth was pulled, he was freed from his duties for the rest of the day. The Russian Jew flashed a toothless smile to his seatmate, and said, "I was in the army for six years and I lost six teeth this way, but at least I never worked on Yom Kippur!"
Fortunately, the average person does not need to sacrifice in his service of Hashem in the manner in which this holy Jew did. Our sacrifices are less severe - yet, nevertheless, our sacrifices are in direct proportion to our ability and culture. Indeed, for us, concentrating during davening is likened to pulling teeth! That is our sacrifice!
What is your sacrifice?
Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength to serve you with all my heart and soul!"
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