Affecting Change

The Torah portion of this week takes us back to the beginning of Judaism and to the life of our forefather, Abraham. One of the outstanding qualities of Abraham was that he was not only a passionate believer in G-d, but was also a leader who actively guided others to lead a life of righteousness.

Abraham's mission was to not only lead his own followers on the path of righteousness but also to have a lasting impact on further generations. He didn't want to be just a transmitter of knowledge but a transformer of lives, so he taught his students to become teachers themselves.

We are all aware of the turmoil that is faced by the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael, and it is important for us to recognize the significance of Abraham's approach in our mission to make a positive impact during these trying times.

It is not enough just to increase our own personal good deeds. Our primary goal should be to become ambitious leaders ourselves, inspiring our friends to emulate our example and leading them on the path of righteousness. We must encourage others to follow suit, and eventually, the impact will cascade and multiply.

Let us take inspiration from the teachings of Abraham and become leaders who can create a ripple effect of positive influence throughout our communities and beyond.

Start by spreading the Mitzvah of Shabbat with those around you!

Candle lighting time this week in NYC is at 5:32 PM.

Shabbat Shalom!