Abracadabra! If you pay close attention to these words, you will see that the phrase magicians utter is true. This little phrase that kids think can cause something to magically happen, should be acknowledged by adults as well. Abracadabra comes from two Hebrew words, ברא (to build) and דבר (to speak). The words together literally mean that I build by speaking.

I want you to think: Have you ever said something that came true? I am sure you did plenty of times! But why did it come true? Because you, yes YOU, created it. Hashem, to bring the world into existence, said what He wanted, and then it came to be. Hashem created each one of us with a little piece of Him inside us, and part of that piece gives us the power to create with our speech.

In Parshat Vayetzei, Rachel wants children. After many words of tefillah, Hashem granted her what she wanted because words of tefillah can create a new reality. Tefillah is a tool of creation where with our words we can change a decree that was placed upon us. Rachel used her words to build Am Yisrael into a bigger nation.

On the other hand, in this week’s parsha, Rachel steals the idols belonging to her father, Lavan, because she wants him to stop worshiping them. Rachel neglects to mention to Yaakov that she took them, and when Lavan comes to find them, Yaakov curses whoever took the idols and says they should die. Due to his words, Rachel dies in childbirth. Words can create or destroy, and words can build! Which are you going to choose to do? May we all, with Hashem’s help, be careful with words and create a world filled with great creations and not destruction.

Shira Sedek is a passionate educator at Ramaz Middle School in New York City who loves teaching Torah and inspiring her students.