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A few weeks ago, our school had the visit of a Rabbi who does Kosher supervisions in factories and restaurants. He spoke very nicely and told us a disturbing story.
In one city in America with many observant Jews, there was a Kosher butcher shop whose owner was a religious Jew. Naturally, in addition to the owner, there was a rabbi that oversaw that everything was indeed Kosher. Kosher meat is more expensive, therefore a lot of supervision is needed in order to avoid fraud. The temptation is great. One of the responsibilities of the supervisor is to check that the orders to the suppliers correspond to the merchandise in the shop. One time, the supervisor noticed that there was more meat in the store than what he remembered had been ordered. With a small investigation, he discovered that late at night, another supplier came, who brought non-kosher meat, which was then sold as kosher. The butcher shop closed, its owner fled abroad, and everyone was extremely shocked. Once, abroad, someone recognized the owner and asked him, how was it possible for him to do such a thing? After all, he was himself a religious Jew and he knew how important kosher meat is. The owner answered him: “The first time was very frightening.”
The first time we do something is crucial.
Last Tuesday, we had the Fast of the 10th of Tevet. On this day 2444 years ago (in the year 3336 from Creation, 425 BCE), the Babylonians started a siege around Jerusalem. After a blockade of two and a half years, they managed to enter the city, burn the Temple, kill many Jews and take the remainder as prisoners to Babylon.
But why do we fast on the 10th of Tevet? No one died on this day…
On the 10th of Tevet was the beginning of the siege, and as we mentioned earlier, the beginning is crucial. It is as if the continuation depends on and is included in this first crucial time.
It is the same in our everyday life.
Smokers will tell you that everything started with the first cigarette. Those who went on a diet and stopped will tell you that it’s all because of that first cookie. How many times have we opened our smartphones to see something quickly and suddenly realized we have surfed already for half an hour (or more!)?
We need to be careful and guard ourselves from this first time of doing something negative. Because usually, we end up doing it more times.
The same applies for something positive. Don’t be afraid of doing one small good action. It may seem small, but usually is followed by more.
Shabbat Shalom,
Hanna