Turning Shlepping into Holiness

“You bring one chair, you’re a shlepper. Bring two chairs, it’s a holy act of kindness.”

This quote is attributed to Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, a trailblazing educator in the first half of the 20^th century and founder of Torah U'Mesorah. It captures the important lesson that each person needs to do some “heavy lifting” (literally and figuratively) when it comes to things that matter.

Avraham modeled this for us. Avraham saw people approach, and he ran to greet the guests. He ran to his flock and selected the sheep to prepare. Avraham served the food himself. Carrying, running, lifting, or serving is not shlepping if it is for the sake of others.

I grew up in a small shul in which it was expected that everyone had to do something for the shul to function. My experiences included leading Adon Olam, rolling Torahs and changing Torah covers, setting up Kiddush and bringing leftovers back to the kitchen to salvage what could be used again later, putting out the Machzorim, and checking and cleaning the pews. Maybe it was good practice for my chosen career!

Through these actions, I learned the important lesson to appreciate the unique and irreplaceable contributions that one can make and then do it for your shul, your community, and your world. If you don’t do it, it just won’t get done. Now, times and expectations have changed. Some activities have been turned over to professionals, and people have new and different ways to contribute and volunteer. At the same time, there is something holy in physically doing what needs to be done.

“Ma’aseh avot siman la’banim – The actions of the parents guide the children.” Avraham – like all of our patriarchs and matriarchs – teaches us many lessons. He was willing to get his hands dirty and do what needed to be done to serve others. What can each of us physically do that may be out of our comfort zones for the benefit of our families, shul, community, or others? Don’t look at it as a burden. It’s not shlepping’ it’s holy.