Be a blessing

This week’s Torah portion says something fascinating: “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.” On the surface, it sounds like poetic repetition—blessings will come, blessings will overtake. But the deeper idea is that sometimes a person runs away from blessings, and the Torah promises that even then, the blessings will catch up.

But it’s actually more than just that; this isn’t just about receiving blessings, it’s also about giving them. Sometimes we run away from the opportunity to bring a little blessing into someone else’s life. We think, Who am I to bless someone? What difference does it make if I say something kind, or offer encouragement? But the Torah is telling us G-d has already given you the power to bless others. You don’t have to create it out of thin air. All you need to do is open your mouth, or your heart, and share it.

We live in a world where it’s often easier to criticize than to bless. Scroll through social media for five minutes, you’ll find outrage, sarcasm, and negativity galore. People snap at each other in traffic, at the grocery store, even at home. Some convince themselves they’re being “helpful” by being harsh; “I’m just telling it like it is.” But Judaism reminds us that there’s a commandment to love your neighbor as yourself before you get to “rebuking” them. In other words, first make sure your words are soaked in care, not just in frustration.

Someone once told me he’d stopped going to synagogue because every time he showed up, someone made a snide comment about how rarely they saw him. Their intention might have been to encourage him to come more often, but the impact was the opposite. Compare that with another man I know who makes a point of greeting everyone with a smile and a warm handshake, even strangers who walk in for the first time. Guess whose words inspire people to come back?

The Torah’s message is clear: if you’re running from your calling to bless others, don’t worry—G-d won’t let you get away with it. The blessings will catch up, and you’ll find yourself not just receiving, but giving them too.

Right now, we’re in the month of Elul, the month leading up to the High Holidays, when “the King is in the field.” Normally, a king is in his palace, surrounded by guards and protocols. But during Elul, G-d is said to step into the “field”—into our everyday lives—and smile at us with open arms. It’s a reminder that this is the time to approach each other with kindness, compassion, and warmth. If G-d greets us with a smile, shouldn’t we do the same for one another?

So here’s the challenge: instead of saving your blessings for big occasions like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and New Year cards, try blessing people in daily life. Tell your child, “I’m proud of you.” Tell your co-worker, “You make this office better.” Tell a stranger in line, “I hope you have a great day.” These small words can change someone’s entire outlook.

And when we bless each other, something powerful happens: G-d adds His blessing on top of ours. That’s how we end up with days that are not just good, but truly blessed—“Blessed when you come in, and blessed when you go out.”

May the new year bring you blessings that chase you down, and may you discover the joy of passing those blessings forward.