“Small people do big things, big people do small things”

So said Rabbi David Kronglas, spiritual guide at the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in the last generation. 

Rabbi Kronglas was trying to impress upon his students the importance of small and meaningful actions. People who make large sweeping motions with great pomp and circumstance may not be the ones to be relied upon in a pinch. The truly great people are the ones who quietly lend support and get the deed done, in spite of the lack of publicity. Very often the greatness of a person can be glimpsed in quiet actions that we may discover wholly by accident. 

We have just concluded the saddest time of the year. 

Last week we commemorated the time we lost the first and second Temples and the period of mourning is segueing into a time of consolation. 

There is a powerful image shared with us by our Sages. 

In the Talmud it describes the shocking final scene of the destruction of the Temple. While the edifice was going up in flames, the cohort of young Kohanim, the Priests, who were charged with the service in the Temple,  realized the end had come. The Talmud depicts the haunting scene  as they watch the holy building going up in flames. Holding the keys to the building in their hands they declare to Gd that since they were not worthy to remain the stewards of this holy place and it’s endeavors, they are, so to speak, returning the keys to Gd. The Talmud states they then threw the keys heavenward and a “hand” reached out and caught the keys for safekeeping. 

This depiction reveals the despair of those tragic days, and the utter hopelessness that prevailed. 

We are still trying to find the keys to unlock the gates of redemption. 

The seven weeks between the 9th of Av and Rosh Hashana are called the 7 weeks of consolation. 

Each week, we read different passages from the prophets in the weekly Haftorahs that give us hope that all is not lost and we can continue to unlock doors which will bring us to personal and national redemption. 

Sometimes, in our personal or national lives we will experience events that will illustrate for us the reality that doors which may be locked and are preventing us from moving forward in our journey may ultimately swing open when least expected. 

When we travel to Israel we have had the immense privilege of meeting some of the young men and women in uniform. So many comment on how young the soldiers are and there is a frequent desire to give them gifts and food, as we see them as our own kids. We salute these soldiers for their discipline and dedication!

It has been an intensely emotional week in Israel with the commemoration of Memorial Day which remembers the fallen soldiers and victims of terror, followed by Independence Day. 

So many have given up their lives for our country. It is hard to connect to the the overwhelming loss. 

Perhaps by focusing on the story of one woman, one mother, we can have a glimpse of the magnitude of the pain - but we can also be inspired by her courage and her wisdom. 

Miriam Peretz is a loving mother and grandmother. She makes delicious food for her family and is a doting and joyous matriarch.