Close To Torah

ידיה שלחה בכישור וכפיה תמכו פלך.

“She stretched out her hands to the distaff; her palms supported the spindle.”

We receive inspiration from so many different places. This past Wednesday I was standing in line at a local store and a pained Jewish woman approached me and began a conversation with me. She told me about her bitter divorce that she was going through and about the troubled relationship that she had been a victim of. It was a four minute conversation, but it made a great impact on me. She said to me, “when you sing Aishes Chayil Friday night, think about all that your wife does for you and make sure to spend quality time together.” I wanted to share her sincere words as the introduction this week. As we study the inspiring words of King Solomon, I wish to point out how much he extols the greatness of the virtuous Aishes Chayil. The purpose of this series is to help develop appreciation towards our spouses and not to build expectations and requirement! Every person has their talents and strengths that deserve our attention and appreciation.

The Aishes Chayil has her priorities straight. Even though the last verse mentioned her great business responsibilities, here it shares that she tends to the sowing and household needs. She knows where she is needed most and how much her family needs her skills.

The idea of spinning and sowing is what is stressed here. Throughout the generations women have dominated that field. Sociologists state that sowing takes much skill and patience, something that women excel in more than men. When the phone were first invented and put into operation, women were hired to be the operators who would connect the calls through over the switchboard. This was a result of having first having hired men to carry out the job, however, it did not work. The male operators became impatient with the customers who were slow in their responses due to their lack of experience in using a telephone and many people grew so frustrated from the male operators rudeness that the company had to seek out a solution. They found one quickly; they hired women who would be more patient and understanding.

The Gemara (Kiddushin 31a) tells us that it is common for a child to respect his mother more than his father. Why so? “Because she encourages him with sweet words.” A woman’s comforting, patient and emotional warmness can truly touch a child. The care and love that a woman offers her family members deserves much appreciation and respect.

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