Rebecca Masinter

A Crown for Mothers

It’s possible that your preschooler last week created an art project of two golden crowns to symbolize the two crowns Bnai Yisrael received at matan Torah for na’aseh and nishma, saying “We will do and we will hear” as we accepted the Torah.  In truth, while Matan Torah is in Parshas  Yisro, the description of the nation saying “naaseh v’nishma” is in this week’s Parsha of Mishpatim.  As we all know, the crowns came as a reward for preceding “na’aseh” to “nishma”, agreeing completely to do whatever the Torah requires before we learned about the details of what we were undertaking.  

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.  But, I think that each of us has actually participated in a “na’aseh v’nishma” moment in our lives.  Isn’t having a child accepting an undertaking 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.  I am always inspired by seeing the way mothers stretch and grow way out of their comfort zones 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!  And don’t you think that is deserving of golden crowns?

So for today, let’s acknowledge our commitment and devotion to our families which we undertake each day not even 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.