Corner the Market

As a non-Jew, I am recommitting to learning and teaching the Seven Noachide Laws. REA / Chicago

Hi Lori, You have inspired me to pick a mitzvah to take as my own. Thank you for all the ideas and thought provoking talks you share with us. That is a mitzvah for you!

Lori, Thank you for brightening my weeks. And for teaching me how to be a better person and a better Jew. I have been trying to follow the Pirkei Avot precept "to greet each person with a smile," not the easiest thing to do first thing in the morning, when I don't feel well or when I encounter someone I don't really like. But who said it would be easy? The reaction to a smile is usually a smile. It brightens my day.

to someone who really needs a friend.

Your insights made me think- if each of us "corner the market" on a mitzvah, each of us make up a small beautiful portion of the whole of Torah. Only by repairing the world together can we be whole. It's like each of us perfects goodness in the world in this way. My parents fear Hashem and believe in His existence. They have always respected the Sabbath and in turn I too, can't live without this place in time in my life. I have come to appreciate the joy of celebrating the Sabbath in community with others. My parents fear and belief in Hashem's existence has made me question both and has lead me to understand and love Him more. It has helped me to understand G-d creates the darkness so we can find the light more precisely. I know that I can "do battle" with the darkness and that the light will always win. I have felt G-d's power in my life and work toward loving Hashem with all my heart, soul and might. I bear affection for those who are searching for G-d. We are all one, apart of G-d's unity. I'm anxious for the day when all of creation realizes this!

Hi Lori, my mitzvah is praying for diabled vehicles! I am a courier and I see so many broke down vehicles and know how awful that would be to be stuck on the side of the road waiting for help! Most people would pass you by because they might think your some kind of theat to there safety or perhaps they can't stop because they'll be late for work. Also I was listening to someone about doing a mitzvah for someone else without them knowing it, so I think this is the one that gets both mitzvah's done! Beside I am partial to motorist! Thank you for you helpfull guidance into Adoni's word.

My Mitzvah - Living in Israel! I pray for that and I hope I will move soon...

Being real and authentic with people!

I always light Shabbat candles I would liketo start inviting people to my Shabbat table

It's no wonder Mark sends you flowers every year! You are absolutely amazing! Thank you for your weekly inspiration and for the glow it gives the rest of my week. You've given me so much to think about and really showed me the power of one person when they truly care about others. Thank you, Lori! My mitzvah is negel vasser in the morning. I feel that starting off the day right gets me in the mood to make it a great day. Please continue your great work!

Firstly, I''d like to thank you for all the "Lori almost Live" videos that I''ve seen, I get a tremendous amount from them.
I always wondered if just being a devoted mother is a mitzva. I have 2 kids and barely have enough energy for them due to my Insomnia. I always thought when I got married I''d have guests often, but I just don''t have the energy for it-so it must not be my calling. So, is raising a family something you can consider your mitzva?

Peforming this mitzvah is important to me because it reminds me of G-d love and protection. It is an additional way for me to connect to G-d.

Thank you Lori...this morning I read Isaiah 58:7 and it really spoke to me...'Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out into your house...then I read your message and it has confirmed to me that my mitzvah is to bring the poor into my house...my husband and I are adopting two children and I was questioning what we are doing...now I believe that is what I should do to the very best I can!

What a beautiful concept. to take one mitzvah and fully experience and observe. I love making challah and sharing it with our shabbat guests and bringing it to others. It is wonderful to taste different challot recipes and learn from others. Also it is fun to teach others how to make challah. I have a few books on the subject that are helpful.

SHalom- Normally I have no problem clicking onto Lori's fantastic and inspiring videos but this one about choosing a mitzvah would not come up- just kept saying "streaming"

Lori, I have been keeping shabbat for the past 2 months now and it can be a tough battle sometimes. im trying to learn as much as i can about shabbat. please help!

My father z"l passed away around 3 weeks ago. The Mitzvah of the Shiva, Shloshim, and 12 months are not easy (not going to Simchas, not listening to music, etc.) and it is alot to give up for a year. But when I think how my father related to me, it was always the "best": the best food, the best clothes, the best education, etc. So now I decided to keep the mitzvohs of mourning the best that I can, so that I can honor my father as perfectly as possible. May Am Yisroel know only of Simchas.

You've chosen a very fascinating-and thought provoking-topic. I've heard of the concept of "choosing a mitzvah" yet I rarely hear it spoken of and have rarely seen it in print. Personally, my initial choice would probably be the mitzva of "..saver panim yafos" greeting everyone with a smile. I'm pretty good at it and I guess it would be nice to perfect that mitvah

It's no "coincidence" that THIS week is the week you spoke about "corning a mitzvah" in your blog because literally this week, marks 4 years since I started a weekly Torah email. There have been so many times (such as, shoping in a new grocery store in Israel, working in a new Summer camp in NY, meeting friends of friends, or even sitting next to someone in college) where I'll meet a "stranger" who will ask me my name, and immediately say "oh! I get your weekly Parsha emails!" It's really a powerful thing to have a permanent "mitzvah" that's uniquely your own. It's amazing because, for me, since I've done these over 4 years, I've watched myself literally grow with the mitzvah. Aside from how much I have learned (in order to write a dvar Torah you have to first research!), I've seen my style of writing change, I've watched what types of lessons I think are valuable change, and I literally have developed with this mitzvah. It's also really empowering to know that there's one small, simple thing in this world that connects me with G-d and me with others that is uniquely my own, with my own thoughts/reflections, my own style of writing, etc. It's a great idea to corner a market on a mitzvah because it becomes part of who YOU are! I know if there's one thing that takes priority it's THAT mitzvah... it gives me clarity and inspiration! Great idea, Lori!

Can you pick one aspect of a mitzvah? For example, the mitzvah to "love fellow Jews" - one way to do that is to look at the positive sides of everyone and everything they do. Would that be something to work at? It is very hard for me to do so I think it might be good for me to try. What do you think, "Lori Almost Live"? Thanks!!!

Great lecture you gave. I love having guests to my home, which is something my mother of blessed memory enjoyed doing. How are thing going regarding your looking for my beshert? Gratefully, Mark Eisenberg

Hi Lori,

I just saw your video regarding the mitzvah one would like to be known for “cornering the market” on.

I’m a returnee to judaism so I’ve only recently been wrapping tefillin. I guess that is my mitzvah I’m planning to corner the market for. My parents were not religious at all so we don’t have any that my family is known for. Now that I have a wonderful wife and two wonderful children, I want to raise them with what I did not have— the joy of Torah and mitzvot and a religious community.

I have chosen wrapping tefillin because it is something that I must think about in order to perform. I must make sure that wrap my arm and hand the proper amount and say the proper blessings.

It’s difficult for me because I’m in the National Guard, and I’m in training in Arizona. I think I must be the only Jew on post. I have a non-Jewish roommate so it “weirds him out” when I wrap, but I don’t care (I’m 40 and he’s 20 so there is also a generation gap). I deploy to Iraq in March after I’m done with training, and I’m bringing my tefillin, talit, kipah, and my sidur. I plan on wrapping tefillin every day there (except on Shabbat of course) and every day after my return. I look forward to returning home and continuing to become more observant.

Best regards,
SPC Solomon

The advise to pick a mitvah and do it to the ultimate makes room for everyone to join. It personalized and therefore meaningful. What a spiritual lift. Thank you

You asked about family''s mitzvah.. well, I have non-religious family (I mean my parents with whom i live) but everybody who once was our guest says that their hospitality is really on a great level. I''m religious girl and I really want this mitzvah to be mine, but I''m not sure that I can keep it as much as they do.

I work at a big playground park that I generally enjoy doing (even for part-time and underemployed prior to finding a more full-time permanent job elsewhere). I like how people appreciate how clean I keep and maintain the park grounds, and I am glad to facilitate carousel rides for all sorts of children such as those in wheelchairs, individuals with Down's syndrome or mental retardation, and patients with cancer who all want to have as usual a childhood as possible.

is Lashon Hora -- not speaking gossip. It''s not as easy as I thought it''d be! I''ve a list of others I want to work on as well, but one thing at a time!! Thank you Lori!