In Judaism there are 613 mitzvahs for us to perform. How can you possibly perform them all? How can you expect yourself to perform them all? How about 1? Maybe 1 can lead to 2 or 3?
Here is a quote from Rabbi Gold’s Rosh HaShana 5767 Sermon on the topic of performing mitzvot:
“One of the great rabbis of our time, Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf, describes the Path of Life as one being encrusted with Mitzvah opportunities, baked into the ground as jewels. Here is his gorgeous metaphor: I try to walk the road of Judaism. Embedded in that road are many jewels. One is marked “Sabbath” and one “Civil Rights” and one “Kashrut” and one “Honor Your Parents” and one “Study Torah” and one “You Shall Be
Holy.” There are at least 613 of them, and they are of different shapes and sizes and weights. Some are light and easy for me to pick up, and I pick them up. Some are too deeply embedded for me – so far at least, though I get a little stronger by trying to extricate the jewels as I walk the street. Some, perhaps, I shall never be able to pick up. I believe that G-d expects me to keep on walking Judaism Street and to carry away whatever I can of its commandments. I do not believe that G-d expects me to lift what I cannot, nor may I condemn my fellow Jew who may not be able to pick up even as much as I can.”
I love the idea. Maybe we can have some mitzvah stones that people can carry in their pocket and meditate on them.
