TAKING THE FIRST STEP

One day while visiting my elderly sofer Rav Kalmen Pinter, he suggested that I purchase Rabbainu Tam Teffilin. I respectfully told him that it was not my Minhog. He would not take no for an answer. Everytime I met him he would say, “Nu R’ Yaakov when will you purchase the Teffilin”. He would go on to explain the importance of wearing them, adding that it was high time for me to consider at my age doing something extra for a zechus.

The day finally came when I said to him, “I will purchase the Teffilin the day after my wife and I merit to walk our youngest child down to the Chupah. That would be the perfect time, upon entering a new chapter in life”.

He wasn’t satisfied with my answer. “Don’t procrastinate, you need to buy them now. If you take the first step now, Hashem will bless you to start wearing them shortly”.

Even though my daughter wasn’t a Kallah yet at the time, the Teffilin were ordered, with the hope and anticipation to soon merit the great day, when I would begin wearing them. I said to Hashem, “if it be your will for me to wear these new  Teffilin I have purchased, I am prepared to do so everyday for the rest of my life, starting the day following my daughters Chasunah”.

I paid for the Teffilin and put them away for safe keeping.

It didn’t take long and my daughter became a  kallah. Her wedding followed shortly thereafter.

True to my word, the next morning I took out the new Rabbainu Tam Teffilin and wore them for the first time, with a great expression of  Hakoras Hatov to Hashem.

Taking the first step, trying to advance in our Avodas Hashem, is a way to merit the additional zechusim we need to help carry us through life. Whatever we may be involved in, it is always a good idea to take the first step.

When Hashem sees that we extend ourselves beyond the call of duty, we stand a better chance to merit His special

assistance from above. Instead of waiting for Hashem to act first, we need to act first. Then we can merit בדרך שאדם רוצה ללך, מוליכים אותו מין השמים

The guiding light of Hashem will see us through all challenges.