From the Desk of Rabbi Cantor Judy

This week’s Torah portion, Vayera, has left me unsettled. So much unfolds in this parsha—moments of divine revelation, moral testing, and human struggle. Each scene is rich and complex, deserving more space than this brief message allows. Yet, as we enter November, one theme rises to the surface for me: the essence of real giving.

During the High Holidays, I spoke about “mitzvah sparks” and even gave out gold stones as a tangible reminder. But I’ve been wondering—did those sparks truly ignite? I haven’t seen or heard much excitement, especially in connection with our food drive. And I worry. With the reduction in SNAP benefits and growing economic uncertainty, I know many are giving less. The fear is real—about jobs, income, and the future.

And yet, we are a people who give. We are taught that giving will never diminish our income—only increase it.

There’s a story I love about Baron Edmond Rothschild, who once asked his assistant to calculate his net worth. She returned with a detailed report, but the Baron shook his head. “That’s not my worth,” he said. “The government could seize all of that in an instant.” Then he pulled out a tiny key from his vest pocket, opened the center drawer of his desk, and revealed a small ledger. “This,” he said, “is the record of all I’ve given to charity. This is my true worth. It can never be taken away.”

Tzedakah. Charity. Generosity. Kindness. Hospitality. These are eternal. They define us. They make us more affluent in so many ways.

So I ask you: Do you have a center drawer that reminds you of your worth?

Inspired by the Baron, I’ve placed my gold stones in my own desk drawer. Each day, I open it—not just to remember, but to act. To give. To build my self-worth, one mitzvah at a time.

Shabbat Shalom.