1994

Mitzvah Heroes

he Torah recounts a revealing
incident between Moses and
a small lamb.
Moses was guarding the
flock of Jethro when a lamb
escaped. He chased the ani-
mal to a stream, where the lamb was drinking.
"Had I known you were thirsty," Moses said, "I
would have taken you in my arms and carried
you here."
The rabbis cite Moses' compassion for the
smallest of creatures as an example of his
greatness. For it is not the dramatic and cele-
brated gestures but the humble, everyday acts
of kindness that reveal a man's true nature, they
said.
The past six years, The Jewish News has hon-
ored men, women and children in our commu-
nity who, through their continuous acts of
lovingkindness, come to be recognized as Mitz-

lir

vah Heroes. They are the gentle souls who help
the sick and comfort the grieving, never seeking
gratitude or recognition for themselves. They
are the quiet healers who lend a hand without
being asked, who bring bread to the hungry, who
reach out to a troubled child.
"Small things often lead to great joy," Israeli
author S.Y. Agnon wrote.
The acts of this year's Mitzvah Heroes should
bring great joy and pride to all of us in the Jew-
ish community.
The 1994 Mitzvah Heroes were selected by
a panel comprising Rabbi Dannel Schwartz of
Temple Shir Shalom, Rabbi David Nelson of
Congregation Beth Shalom, Rabbi Avrah
am Jacobovitz of Machon L'Torah, Jewish
News Associate Publisher Arthur Horwitz,
Jewish News Editor Phil Jacobs, and
Jewish News Associate Editor Elizabeth
Applebaum.

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