Friday will be a fast day, Asarah B’Tevet, the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet. On this day in the year 425 BCE, the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. It’s a time to fast and repent. It is also a time to reflect on negative experiences we might encounter in life.
Here’s a story that got me thinking.
There were two newspaper vendors on the same street. One would always smile, he was pleasant and kind. The other one always looked angry and upset. Everyday (besides Shabbat) an elderly Jew would buy a newspaper joined by his grandchild.
Surprisingly, he would always buy the newspaper from the angry vendor. Every day when he would arrive to buy his paper he would say “good morning,” and in return he would receive a negative response with insults.
One morning the young grandchild asked, “Sabba, why do you go to the angry vendor? He will give you bad energy at the beginning of your day. Better go to the happy vendor who will give you a good response and good energy.”
The grandfather became serious and replied, that at the beginning of each day he wants to prove to himself that his mood won’t be dependent on the reaction of others around him. “If I’m strong in my self-determination, then I can be happy and upbeat regardless of the vendor’s rude reply! This daily test keeps me on my toes to keep my level of resilience intact.”
The Parsha this week teaches us about the end of Yosef’s life. Yosef was an example of a person who received so many negatives responses and reactions, but never allowed these moments to bring him down or give up.
He lived in a reality where everyone around him tried to either harm him or cause him trouble. Notwithstanding that, he continuously found a way to be successful and stay positive.
Everything in our life is being guided by G-d. Every encounter and experience. We may have negative moments during our day or we can be going through a challenging time. However we can choose how we respond. Remembering that G-d is guiding us and holding us by the hand at each experience.
Yosef set the example of trusting in G-d at every step. It worked for him, let’s give a little try as well.
Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Zalman and Esty
Parsha: Eikev (2026)
July 31, 2026
This week, I was giving a class on Judaism’s perspective on the sanctity and immeasurable value of human life. During the discussion, we came across one of the most profound teachings of our Sages: “Whoever sustains a single Jewish soul, it is considered it as though one has sustained an entire world.”(Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) This…
