Three contractors were touring the White House on the same day.
One was from New York, another from Missouri and the third from Florida. At the end of the tour, a guard asked them what they did for a living. When they each replied that they were contractors, the guard said, “Hey we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don’t you guys take a look at it and give me your bids?”
First, the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencils, did some measuring and said, “I figure the job will run about $900 – $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.”
Next was the Missouri contractor. He also took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations and said, “I can do this job for $700 – $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me.”
Finally, the guard asks the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, the contractor says, “I’d charge $2,700.”
The guard, incredulous, looks at him and says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”
“Easy,” said the contractor from New York. “One thousand dollars for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri to do the work.”
Jokes aside, there is something to be said about an honest day’s work. There is a wonderful feeling we experience when we’ve accomplished something by our own hand. This sense of satisfaction can’t be duplicated if we’re merely handed success on a golden platter.
This idea is represented in a fascinating way in the Torah’s narrative of how the two sets of tablets containing the 10 Commandments were produced.
The first set of tablets was fashioned by God Himself. Moses wasn’t required to actively participate in their formation. These tablets were destroyed when Moses discovered the Jewish People worshiping the Golden Calf.
God instructed Moses to replace the first tablets that he had shattered.
Moses did not receive this second set of tablets as a completed work. In contrast to the first set of tablets, Moses was required to climb Mount Sinai and hew the second set himself. With his own hands, he had to carve, chisel and shape the hard rock from the top of the mountain.
When Moses was done and he came down the mountain with the second set of tablets in his hand, the Torah tells us that rays of light emanated from his face. His face shone with the radiance that comes only to those who achieve a lofty goal after great trial and toil.
There was a time when conditions were favourable to Jewish observance – when it was normal and natural to be a believing and pious Jew.
Those times can be compared to the first set of tablets. Without much work, we were handed a great religion.
Things have changed since then. Today, the world, its media and its ethics don’t favour Jewish piety and observance. In times like these, it takes great effort to stand up for what’s right and true.
But the difficulty of incorporating Jewish values into our daily lives shouldn’t discourage us from trying to be more observant. Rather, we should realize that it’s specifically through overcoming challenges that we find the shining rays of true happiness.
Acting according to God’s will may not be the easiest or most popular life choice, but it’s through the hard work of developing our character that we will bring forth the great light that lies within each of us.
Rabbi Jacks is spiritual leader of Congregation Zichron Kedoshim in Montreal.
