Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 9:10) explains why Aaron struck the Nile to initiate the first two plague of blood and frogs. (Exodus 7:9, 19). Because the Nile protected baby Moses in his basket as he floated down the river, Moses smiting the river would be inappropriate. The Torah is teaching us an important lesson. We should develop a gratitude attitude. If we should show gratitude to water, an inanimate object which has no feelings, how much more so should we express our gratitude to human beings who have shown us kindness!
When I worked at Camp
Ramah in New England either as a Hebrew or Judaic teacher, my job was a breeze
compared to those who worked in the kitchen.
I only taught 4 period out of eight a day (of course I used some of the
other periods to prepare the next day’s lesson plans). The kitchen staff had to
prepare close to 1000 meals three times a day seven days a week, as well as
washing the dirty dishes, and cleaning up the dining room after each meal so it
would be ready for the next meal several hours later.
While many grumbled
that the food just wasn’t like the way mother made it, I tried to thank the
kitchen staff after each meal to show my gratitude for all their hard work and
effort. Working in a kitchen has to be one of hardest of all the camp jobs and
I know they appreciated my words by the smiles on their faces.
Try a gratitude
practice by saying “thank you” at least 100 times a day. Over time you’ll make
a lot of people happy and you’ll discover that you’ll be a happier person too!
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