Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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Little Things Add Up

by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

Lessons from airline luggage fees.

Published: July 31, 2010
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Visitor Comments: 12

(12) Maria, August 5, 2010 5:14 PM

Little things add up

Thank you, Rabbi, for yet another great piece of advice. G-d bless you!

(11) Maria, August 5, 2010 5:09 PM

Little things add up

Alan, you better stop talking of the possibility of getting charged for the air we breathe. Since breathing is a universal necessity, some stupid genious (valid antithesis) may develop a way to actually measure--and charge for--consumption.

(10) Anonymous, August 5, 2010 3:47 PM

Some examples with torah that I have done

I'm a baal tshuvah and hope to stay one continualy improving myself, the mitzahs I do, and the torah I learn. I started almost 4 years ago doing serious torah study (to actually learn). I read articles on aish, chabad, and other sites, then next year I started doing Rashi with the parsha, then the next year I started to do kitzur schulan aruch, and nach yomi. I will soon finish going over all of nach, and after that my plan is to go to complete the mishniyot. I'm also planning on starting daf yomi when the new cycle starts up. But because of constantly learning new things I see some people who were born religous, or who have been religous a little longer than me, but I'm actually becoming more knowledgeable than them.

(9) Anonymous, August 4, 2010 1:37 AM

yes

correct

(8) Anonymous, August 3, 2010 3:58 PM

Suim/Completion of Mishniyos

its true, the small things do add up, R.Moishe Finestein completed learning all the mishniyos from walking from his place of praying to the bimah from just getting torah aliyahs!

(7) Miriam, August 3, 2010 3:41 PM

Amazing!

Thanks, Rabbi Salomon, it is so true - we need to watch carefully what are those little things we do and make sure that are going to add up into something good!

(6) anon, August 3, 2010 5:56 AM

Exercise!

Yes, Rabbi, you're right. Little efforts, done consistently, reap a tremendous reward. I find that exercising is like that... doing a little exercise each day can create the physical and emotional changes that you desire, and it only takes a little effort each day.

(5) derek, August 2, 2010 5:50 PM

it does add up but-

IMO, the airlines should charge these fees as part of the ticket price upfront. Now to compare cost from different airlines takes a lot longer to find all these "garbage" fees

(4) Iris Moskovitz, August 1, 2010 4:43 PM

Great topic choice, once again.

What adds up for me is all the knowledge I am gaining watching these 3 minute clips on "something to think about" . Keep up the good work, Rabbi Salamon.

(3) Anonymous, August 1, 2010 3:55 PM

There are 260,000 Aish subscribers per week

Small things do matter. Thank you Rabbi! Since there are 260,000 subscribers to Aish website per week and if there could be only 200,000 to contribute $1 per week. That is less than a small cup of coffee. $1 per week. That becomes $200,000 per week. That could be helpful in running some of the many great programs. $1 per week!

(2) Rosen, August 1, 2010 1:47 PM

small impacts adding up

Indeed, small things like fees really do add up. I recently closed my savings account since my bank kept charging me fees of $5 a month since I didn't have a minimum amount, and I know those $5 fees can eat away at my savings and cost up to $60 a year. My bank claims that they charge these fees to "cover the costs" and can't divulge on what costs are covered and what goes to profit. And, with the banks that have been bailed out by the gov't under either Bush and/or Obama, they still seem to charge their customers fees...At least with small things adding up, it can also be applied for good when we give tzedekah, as Rabbi Solomon mentioned...As for the airline industry, I seldom fly nowadays given all the hassles and stress with packing to fly (fortunately, I have yet to incur a fee for my luggage, particularly the last time I flew since I travelled lightly to fly somewhere to see a friend for just a couple days).

(1) Alan S., August 1, 2010 9:04 AM

Excellent lesson Rabbi. Although the phrase 'nickel and diming' has a negative connotation, it also serves to show us that often, a 'profit' is found in the little things. Of course, you're not 'picking on' the airline or travel industry, becaue every industry has found a way to charge for practically anything, regardless of past practice. I think this practice started with our legislative bodies as they began looking for additional ways to bring in revenue. What was once a 'tax' became a surcharge or fee. Check out your phone bill. Look for those 'incidental' expenses and fees to become more common in the future. It really will only be a matter of time before we get charged for the air we breathe.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.