Weekly Torah Portion

If you try to explain the parent-child relationship to someone who does not have a child yet, you will find it tough to put your emotions into words and the description may fall short. Having a child, and all that comes with it, is not something that can easily be explained – it is something that needs to be experienced. Experiences can shape reality and help redefine different terms or perspectives. My experiences over the last few weeks have allowed me to deepen my appreciation of a simple term: family time. Or maybe even better said, the past two weeks encouraged me to shift my definition of family time.

Last week I was blessed with the celebration of Yitzi’s Bar Mitzvah. Family from all over the world came to share in our simcha and Yitzi knocked it out of the park for his Torah Reading, speech and all-around Bar Mitzvah experience. While it was a whirlwind few days, my heart is full of joy, pride and happiness for Yitzi, and I am so proud of the man he is becoming.

Currently, I am spending some time with my family and enjoying a trip to Colorado, a place I myself have visited a few times, but not with my family. Ever since I came here with some friends, I have been looking forward to coming with my family. It has allowed me to see the wonder, joy and breathtaking beauty through their eyes and their experiences. But the coolest thing is how they each are experiencing the trip in their own way.

One kid climbs mountains looking for cool rocks, one is on a moose-sighting fix, a different kid is awed by the majesty of the mountains. Another child is fascinated every time we spot snow (typical Florida kid!). It’s a family trip, but each individual is also having their own experience.

Family time is often used to highlight the importance of having quality time as a family unit. And it’s very true, there is a huge importance of quality time as a unit. But the Bar Mitzvah and our trip have encouraged me not to lose sight of the importance of also allowing and encouraging each member of my family to shine individually, to realize their own importance and worth, to figure out their own path. While we are a unit, we are comprised of six unique individuals.

Throughout the Torah, the Jewish people are counted 10 times. There are a few reasons, but the main reason is to show the value of each individual member of the Jewish People. Yes, we are a Jewish people, one nation, unified and blended together. But we need to remember not to lose sight of each individual member of the Jewish People – we all matter, we all are special, each one of us adds an important component to the whole.