In preparing my shiur about my father, there was so much to talk about regarding joyous connections with him. But there was one experience that stands out and towered above the rest, one that upon recollection makes me very happy.
As mentioned earlier in this column, it was when he took me to work with him and let me help him with his job when I was ten years old. Those memories are so precious. Here’s why: it goes back to Parshas Re’eh in the context of the blessing, that you hearken to the commandments of Hashem, your God, that I command you today.
To me, just being able to help our Father in heaven is a blessing. He could do it all without us – but he wants us to have this joyful connection with Him.
My father’s great blessing to me during our time together was permitting me to help him at his job. He definitely could have done his work by himself, probably even faster and better. But it was his great kindness and sensitivity that led him to understand that though a person likes when good things are done for him, it is more meaningful when that person is able to help someone he loves.
