Hope you’re having a great day.

… This coming Shabbos is my Mom’s yartzeit.  The anniversary of her passing.

“Elisheva bas (daughter of) Dov Ber”.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to send a Torah Minute in her honor.

Many of you have read (more than once!) my tributes to her.

How she inspired my Dad to live a life of Torah.

And how she is responsible for the fact that I have any Torah knowledge.

So I was hesitant to repeat the same message.

Then something happened today that I wanted to share with you.

… It’s traditional to study Torah in memory of a loved one.

We’re taught that such learning actually elevates their soul.

And every year leading up to Mom’s yartzeit?

I go to great efforts to review a volume of the Talmud in her memory.

And this year?

I got a late start.   And I’m behind.  Very behind!

So today after services at synagogue, I was all “psyched up” for my daily learning.

With the added focus on finishing before Shabbos in memory of my mother.

… I noticed an elderly man in town to visit his family.

A family that is very close to me.

We hugged each other and schmoozed a bit.

I was thinking to myself, “So I’ll start learning a few minutes later.”

But that didn’t seem to be the direction we were heading in!

Because I got the sense that this man wanted to schmooze more.

That he needed to schmooze more.

And would really appreciate my walking with him to his children’s home.

I started thinking to myself…

“Two days to Mom’s yartzeit.  I’m very behind.  Not going to make it!”

And that’s when my mother got involved!

I started thinking to myself…

“I know exactly what she would say…

“Moshe.  I am extremely proud of your Torah learning! 

But don’t think about me.  And don’t think about my soul!

Walk the man home and make me proud!”

And that’s what I did.

… But Mom gets to have her cake and eat it!

Because there are different ways to elevate the soul of a loved one.

One is by studying Torah in their memory.

And one is doing an act of kindness because…

Their memory inspires you!     

This I will repeat.  Again and again!

If you enjoy my Torah Minutes?  If they ever inspire you to become a better person?

You have my Mom to thank!