This week we finish the book of Genesis and this is called Shabbas Chazak (strength) as we complete the book and declare "we should be strong and strengthen ourselves".

As we start the book of Exodus is a time we can strengthen ourselves in all aspects of life. We shouldn't think that in order to make a difference and improve we need to take major steps. Sometimes we can only take a small step we don't have the physical, emotional or mental capacity to take a large step. We should realize that that every step we take even small is a step in the right direction. Hashem doesn't ask for us to do more than what we can, but what can do we are required to do.

There is a story related by R'Elimelech Biderman of a Jewish man in Borough Park, who would always take a few dollars with him to shul and give tzedaka as the pushka would come around or needy people would approach him. This was his custom for years and the gabbai of the shul would always pass by him and wait for him to give his dollar to the pushka. One day as the gabbai approached this man searched his pockets and realized he didn't have a dollar. He looked and looked but he simply didn't bring it with him. The man emptied his pocket in search of some money but all he found was a piece of chocolate. The gabbai looked at him and said you always give so just put the piece of chocolate in the pushka.

A few days later the Gabbai told the man that he took the chocolate out of the pushka and put it in his pocket as he was planning to eat it. A few hours someone in the shul collapsed and they realized that his blood sugar had fallen dangerously low. They quickly searched the shul for some sugar to give him but they couldn't find anything, the gabbai remembered the chocolate in his pocket. He quickly took it out and put it in the man's mouth saving his life. Whatever we can do we need to take advantage of!

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath