Al Mitzvah

[inspired by Rabbi Telushkin’s “For the Mitzvah We Performed” and by Rabbi Avi Weiss’ “”]

For the mitzvah of tending to little ones

And the mitzvah of honoring the old

For the mitzvah of checking on friends in distress

And neighbors in wind, rain, and snow

For the mitzvah of toasting new life

And the moments that mark its advance

Of gladdening bridegroom and bride

With wishes and simchadik dance

For the mitzvah of visiting the sick

And of comforting those facing loss

For the mitzvah of helping our loved ones

And those who are strangers to us

For the mitzvah of offering a shoulder

And extending long arm and warm hand

For the mitzvah of listening with heart

And muting proposed reprimand

For the mitzvah of asking forgiveness

For the mitzvah of granting it

For the mitzvah of building a bridge

And the mitzvah of spanning it

For the mitzvah of caring for self

Of feeding our spirits and minds

And of saying “No, thanks” or “Goodbye”

When there’s no better answer to find

For the mitzvah of thanking our teachers

Of making a passerby smile

Of finding the good in the other

Of recalling the good in ourselves

For the mitzvah of conceding our failings

Not with shame but with impulse to grow

For the mitzvah of pushing on, moving forward

When our reservoir of hope has run low:

With all these mitzvotLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed." in mind, God of Forgiveness, have mercy on us; help us have mercy on ourselves; and renew our lives so that we may build on the work we have begun.