We all have moments when we feel like we’re not doing enough or that we’re not ready to make a difference. Maybe we think, “I have my own issues to deal with,” or, “How can I change anything in such a big, complicated world?” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face in our lives or the problems we see around us.
Sometimes, the world seems too big and too broken to fix. The news can be discouraging, and it’s natural to wonder how one person’s actions could matter. But the truth is, big changes always start with small steps.
This week’s Torah portion talks about the mitzvah of the half-shekel. Every Jewish man aged 20 and older was commanded to give a small coin as part of a national donation. The same age group—20 and up—was also counted as the group eligible for military service.
The mitzvah of the half-shekel teaches us something very simple but very powerful: everyone’s contribution matters. The half-shekel wasn’t about how much someone had or how important they were. It was about showing up and giving what they could.
It wasn’t about one person giving a lot; it was about everyone giving a little. Together, those small contributions added up to something incredible.
And there’s another amazing detail associated with this mitzvah. The Torah tells us that the number of people who gave the half-shekel was the exact same as the number of men counted for the army—603,550. Every single person in that group was healthy and able to serve. Not one person was left out.
This might feel hard to relate to. Today, not all of us may feel physically strong or ready to take on big challenges. But spiritually, the lesson still applies. Every single one of us is strong in our own way.
As we approach Purim, this lesson becomes even more relevant. The story of Purim is all about how seemingly small actions can lead to incredible outcomes. Queen Esther, a young woman in a foreign palace, didn’t have a grand plan to save her people. She simply did her part—speaking up when it was needed and relying on the support of the Jewish people through their prayers and fasting. Her bravery, combined with everyone else’s efforts, turned what seemed like certain disaster into a joyous celebration of survival and triumph. Purim reminds us that even the smallest act of courage or kindness can have a ripple effect that changes everything.
You don’t need to do it all, and you don’t need to be perfect. Just showing up and doing your part—whatever that may look like—is enough.
We all have struggles, but deep inside, every Jew has a soul that is pure and connected to something greater than themselves. Even if you feel like you’re not “ready” or “good enough,” know that you already have what it takes to make a difference.
Do something small, and trust that those small actions will add up. Even little efforts, like smiling at a stranger or taking a few minutes to learn something meaningful, create ripples of good that go far beyond what we can see.
The half-shekel showed that everyone’s effort, no matter how big or small, is important and meaningful. When we all do our part, the impact is enormous.
Don’t wait until you feel ready or perfect. Start where you are, with what you have. You’re stronger than you think, and your actions—no matter how small—can make a real difference. Life isn’t about doing everything or being everything. It’s about doing your part, step by step, and trusting that your contribution matters.
When we all come together, each doing our part, we create something truly amazing. The world becomes a better place, little by little, through the small but meaningful actions of ordinary people like you and me.
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