Jewish Heroism Embodied in Small Acts of Kindness and Shabbat Observance

The article begins by noting a calendar anomaly: in 2027, September 1st will precede the start of the Hebrew month of Elul by two days, a detail presented as a scoop. However, the author emphasizes that the main message is relevant every year, particularly at the start of the academic year when students begin new educational frameworks.

The author recounts a personal experience from 32 years prior, when a student named Gadi Licht welcomed him with a smile and genuine interest on his first day at a new yeshiva. Licht's simple act of kindness, though seemingly small, made a significant difference to the author during a lonely period. This anecdote serves as the basis for the author's annual plea to "do not much", to extend similar small gestures of warmth and welcome to newcomers.

This year, the author connects this act of kindness to the Torah commandment of loving converts ('gerim'). He cites the Book of Education, which states that one should not cause them distress but rather treat them with kindness, drawing a parallel to the Israelites' experience as strangers in Egypt. The commandment, the author argues, extends beyond converts to anyone who has left their familiar environment and finds themselves alone, lacking their usual support system, such as students starting at a new school or yeshiva.

The article then shifts to a story shared by a reader, Avitar Bar-Tal, about his family's move to the settlement of Kedim in the northern West Bank. Due to delays, their moving truck arrived late on a Friday afternoon. To ensure the movers could finish before Shabbat, the family agreed to have the furniture unloaded but not assembled, leaving them with a chaotic house and minimal necessities for Shabbat.

Despite the disarray, Bar-Tal described it as their most respectful Shabbat, emphasizing that the sacrifices were made solely to prevent the non-religious movers from violating Shabbat. He frames this act as a form of "Jewish heroism," where the priority is to protect Shabbat for fellow Jews, even if it means personal inconvenience. The author connects this to the broader theme of settling the land of Israel with reverence for Torah and Halakha, contrasting it with secular Zionism and the disengagement policies of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.