Main Ingredient
By Rabbi Raymond Beyda
Gifts are fun. Gifts are a pain. What do you think? Some people just love
to buy gifts. A wedding, anniversaries, birthdays and bridal showers
every occasion serves as an opportunity to go out and shop for that
special do-dad for that special someone. Others, to the contrary, dread
the thought of having to find something appropriate that “something”
that will be received with approval by the recipient.
Giving is an art. Its purpose is to acknowledge the other person’s worth
in your eyes. It is a sign of love, or appreciation or congratulations.
But so often the problem is that with all the effort and all the expense
invested in giving another a gift we leave out the key element
ourselves. Giving of yourself is a gift that always succeeds in making the
recipient feel important. It lifts his or her spirits and makes one happy.
Soon you will have to make that choice again. “What should I give?” Before
you answer the question and invest time and money in acquiring the “toy”
ask yourself, “How can I add a little of myself to the gift how can I
personalize it?” By investing some care and thought you will get what you
want out of your gift.
DID YOU KNOW THAT
A person who serves as shaliah tsiboor [Hazan] must wear a shirt whose
sleeves cover the upper arm down to the elbows as a sign of respect to the
congregation he is representing before G-d.{If he does not have a shirt
that has sleeves that reach down to his elbows he should cover his arms
with a taleet].
{Source: Yehaveh Daat, vol. 4, responsa 8}
CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE
A person must know his or her strength and abilities, but must also
recognize his or her limitations.
Raymond J Beyda
www.raymondbeyda.com
Text Copyright © 2004 by Rabbi Raymond Beyda and Torah.org.
