The Overlooked

There are a few anecdotes that come to mind as I read Rashi's words in the beginning of Parshas Eikev, about the importance of paying attention to "minor" Mitzvos that people often "trample with their feet"...

* * *

Late one night, Rabbi Yosef Wineberg brought a letter to the Rebbe on behalf of a Jew who needed urgent advice from the Rebbe. He stuck the letter into the crevice where the door to the Rebbe's room closes, hoping that the secretary who was there at the time would notice it as he left, and hand it to the Rebbe immediately. Alas, when the secretary came out of the room, the letter fell to the floor, and the Rebbe himself got up from his place nd retrieved it.

Rabbi Wineberg felt terribly about causing the Rebbe this bother. The next day, he wrote a note to the Rebbe to apologize. The Rebbe responded: this is what I do. I lift - especially that which others overlook.

(Click here to hear Rabbi Wineberg tell the story).

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One Erev Shabbos, a friend of mine was riding the subway to his Mivtzoim route in Manhattan.

At one point, a panhandler entered the car.

Most subway riders mind their own business in any case, and are particularly trained to avoid eye contact with certain individuals, so this unfortunate fellow hoping for some compassion was basically ignored.

After a few moments, the silence was shattered by the beggar's painful cry, "Will someone please acknowledge my existence?!"

* * *

A newly hired teacher approached my paternal grandfather, Rabbi C.M.A. Hodakov, and asked what advice he could give him, a first time teacher.

My grandfather told him, "Hub lieb di kinder", show the children love.

He asked, "what if a particular child makes it difficult for me to love him?"

"Show him even more love", my grandfather said, "because, apparently, someone didn't show him enough love last year".

* * *

Of course, there's also Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky's famous story of the "small" Jew from Curacao, and many more.

As we learn and live with Parshas Eikev, in the times of Ikvesa Dimeshicha, may we be inspired to be what we can to those who can benefit from our attention.

Written on the 15th of Menachem Av, the Yohrtzeit of my maternal grandfather, Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda ("JJ") Hecht, of blessed memory, who noticed and looked out for those who were otherwise neglected and overlooked.