I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

In sport and in business, and in almost every other area of human activity, it is not really the effort that counts, it is the result. Even if you play badly, if you score a goal you have won the game. In business, even if you do not work so hard, if by chance you obtain a big order, you are doing well.
However in Judaism, there is a reward for every iota of effort. Joshua was chosen to succeed Moshe Rabeinu, not because he was the most brilliant student, but because of the constant effort he put in to learning from Moshe. Hashem said to Moshe Rabeinu, “He arrived early at your meeting place and left late. He was the one who arranged the benches before you gave a lecture. He was the one who served you with all his strength. (Midrash Raboh 21)
In a similar vein there is a Midrash which has a discussion about which verse encompasses most of the Torah. On Rav said, “Shemah Yisroel”. Another said “Love your neighbour as yourself”. But a third said the verse from this week`s Parsha, “One sheep you shall bring as a sacrifice in the morning, and the second sheep you shall bring in the afternoon”. Perhaps this means, the key to success in Judaism, is to take constant small steps forward.
Maimonidies writes, you can earn a place in the world to come with ONE Mitzvoh, if you do it properly. In fact Hashem gave us a variety of Mitzvos in order to give us more opportunities, to do that one Mitzvoh.
Every effort is worthwhile and produces a result. In the words of King Solomon “Adding one to one, makes the whole amount” (Koheles 7:27.

SOURCES; Introduction to Sefer Ein Yaakov

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QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

Why were the Jewish people commanded to attack only the daughters of Midyon and not the daughters of Moav, (Bamidbar Chapter 25:17) although both were equally culpable?

ANSWER;

One answer is, Moav had a slight excuse, because they acted out of fear, but Midyon acted entirely out of malice

SOURCES; Ramban 25: 18.

If you have any comments, answers, or information, on any of the above, please E-mail me, or tell me.

My E-mail address is mail@rabbij.plus.com

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Jacob Rubinstein (Rabbi)