Rebecca Masinter

Parshas Mishpatim - Golden Crowns for Mothers

Many preschoolers last week created an art project of two golden crowns to symbolize the two crowns Bnai Yisrael received at matan Torah for saying "Naaseh V'Nishma -We will do and we will hear” as we accepted the Torah. While it's true that the giving of the Torah is in Parshas Yisro, the description of the nation saying “naaseh v’nishma” is actually in this week’s Parshah of Mishpatim. Preceding “na’aseh” to “nishma”, agreeing completely to do whatever the Torah requires before we learned the details of what we were undertaking was a monumental and courageous act deserving of golden crowns. Most commitments we make in life are not in the category of “na’aseh v’nishma”. When considering a prospective job we make sure we understand the job description before we accept, which is as it should be. However, there is a supreme “na’aseh v’nishma” commitment that all mothers make. Bringing a child into the world is undeniably undertaking a commitment without any notion of what that will entail. No parent is told what each child will need from us before birth. Instead, we make a commitment to do whatever this child needs from us, sight unseen! Isn’t that amazing? Truly, na’aseh v’nishma. It's inspiring to see mothers stretch and grow far beyond their comfort zones simply because their child needs that from them. None of us signed up for the particular needs of each child, we just accepted the whole package blindly with love! Don’t you think that is deserving of golden crowns? Parshas Mishpatim gives us a chance to acknowledge our commitment and devotion to our families which we undertake each day without knowing what will be needed from us moment to moment. Take a minute to recognize the magnificence of your personal “na’aseh v’nishma” today. You've earned your crowns.