A blooming garden starts with just one seed. A friendship is sparked with a simple hello. A home renovation can start out with the purchase of a single doormat. This is the way of the world. One seemingly small act could lead to something much bigger than planned.
The Torah wants to ingrain this idea into our lives, so that we are encouraged to take the first step. This lesson is gently taught in this week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei.
Here is the question: What happens if you see a cute baby chick sitting in a bird’s nest protected by its mother, and you want to take the chick home with you. The Torah says you can under one condition: you must send the mother bird away first so that the she doesn’t experience the pain of seeing you take her baby.
This mitzvah is rewarded with long life.
Many people struggle with this mitzvah. Why require the mother to be sent away? And even if you do, this is a selfish act, so why do you get a reward, let alone the reward of long life?
The commentators point out that is exactly the point. A selfish desire, when actualized in a sensitive matter, making sure not to hurt—even a bird—leads to performing more mitzvot. Interestingly, the Torah uses the expression “send” the mother away, meaning, not to get tired of doing this simple act, even if it needs to be done repeatedly.
When we take small steps, we can create something much bigger than we ever imagined. The Torah demonstrates this through the mitzvot that follow the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird. Build a home? Put a fence around the roof. Plant a vineyard? Don’t mix the species. Make a garment? Don’t mix wool and linen. One mitzvah leads to another, and one small act of goodness creates the momentum for more.
Perhaps this is the Torah’s message to us: Don’t underestimate the power of one small, positive deed. A simple act of kindness, a thoughtful word, or one mitzvah may seem insignificant in the moment, but it can set something much greater into motion. Just as a garden begins with a single seed, a life of meaning and blessing begins with one small step.
So let’s take that step today. Do one small good deed, and see where it leads.
Shabbat shalom & Shana tova!