The Mitzvah

The Mitzvah

It was one of those mornings when the multitude of chores was overwhelming. There were several things that I had to do, and one of them was folding clothes; I needed help. I asked my oldest daughter if she would help me. She said, "Sure, I'll help you. I can see that there's no way you can fold all of that laundry without help." She can fold clothes and organize things perfectly.

I'm amazed because when I see her room, usually in such disarray, I think that my daughter is an alien being. (Just kidding!) I told her when she finished how much I appreciated her help, and that she did a real mitzvah for her father. She said, "What's a mitzvah?" I told her that, according to Judaism, a mitzvah was a good deed. I also told her that, according to the ancient rabbis, if you performed 617 mitzvahs you were considered righteous. She remarked, "That's great! How many more do I have left?"

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Prose

Escape From Iran

A story of one Jewish man's escape from Iran.
Escape From Iran

Dorchester

On February 3, 1943 a torpedo struck the S.S. Dorchester. Chaos reigned on board as the boat…
Dorchester

Safe in Iraq

Arthur Branner personally recounted his call to Iraq to be chaplain of a battalion for one year.
Safe in Iraq

East 105th Street

I grew up on East 105th Street, in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to Gracemont Elementary school. My…
East 105th Street

Unfaithfully Yours

Emily, my closest friend from high school was voted the one most likely to succeed at…
Unfaithfully Yours

Living the Mitzvah

When my wife and I moved to North Carolina from Florida, we gave up a good support system.
Living the Mitzvah

Bagel Chats

As I was growing up in my Jewish world there were numerous bagel chats with my friends.
Bagel Chats

Dear Jack

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 mph zone.
Dear Jack

My Rabbi's Tie

I was searching for something to give my Rabbi and his wife. I loved them very much so I just…
My Rabbi's Tie

Sydell

Sydell Greenberg grew up in a wonderful Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York. As a result of a…
Sydell
Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman

Rachel Hyman was a fun-loving, happy, energetic child. The more active she was, the happier she…
Rachel Hyman
Noah's Bubbe

Noah's Bubbe

Kathleen Moore is an RN, a mental health counselor, specializing in the field of grief and…
Noah's Bubbe

False Assurance

It was rainy weather for days but since the rain itself wasn’t very heavy I felt I could stay…
False Assurance

T'shuvah

T'shuvah is the Hebrew word, for lack of a better term, meaning return. The Jewish writer Erich…
T'shuvah
Photograph: Barbara Gurien & Dad

Barbara Gurien

Barbara Gurien was working as an ultrasound technologist when she went on a date with a Jewish…
Barbara Gurien

The Overcomer

During the time that I spent with the children at the orphanage in Mexicali Mexico I was…
The Overcomer

Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

I was in a training class for a new job. One day the teacher mentioned that we had been exposed…
Sick Logic and Biblical Wisdom

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation