We want to be nice to everyone. We try to help people when we can and not hurt their feelings. But for certain special people, we have to try especially hard.

In this week’s Torah portion, we are reminded to look out for the feelings and needs of widows, orphans and newcomers who might feel out of place. People who are alone—widows without husbands, orphans without parents, strangers without friends—often feel very weak and vulnerable.

When we go out of our way to be extra sensitive to their needs and feelings, we do a lot to make them feel better. God is teaching us to be watchful of the needs of those who need us the most.

In our story, a girl and her mother share a moment and learn our Torah portion’s lesson of being sensitive to those in need.

Successful Transplant

Janet put down the phone with an obvious look of distress. Her mom, walking by on her way to the garden, noticed. “Hey, is everything okay?” she asked with a tone of concern.

Her daughter looked up. “Well, yes… and no,” answered Janet in her typical roundabout way.

“What’s the matter?” asked Mrs. Bloom, as she placed down the large flower pot she had been carrying.

“It’s really nothing, Mom,” Janet giggled nervously. “That was just Marcie on the phone. A new girl in our class. She invited me to her birthday party on Sunday.”

“What’s wrong with that?” asked her mom, confused.

“Well, I don’t really want to go. Marcie is okay, but… you know, she’s not really such a close friend of mine. She’s only been in our class for a few weeks. She and her family only just moved here recently. She’s from some foreign country. I can hardly understand her when she talks and she just… doesn’t really fit in. Anyway, Sunday I was hoping to go shopping with Trudy. Everything’s half price at Clothes-R-Us.”

“So what did you tell her?” asked her mom.

“I was going to say no, but then she mentioned that she’s called five other girls already and none of them could make it. So I told her I’d let her know in school tomorrow.”

“That sounds like a tough decision,” said Mrs. Bloom. “How about joining me in the garden? I have to transplant these geraniums and could use some help.”

Janet smiled. Both she and her mom loved to be in their spacious garden. Just being out there among the swaying trees and colorful flower beds was always enough to make Janet feel calm and relaxed.

“I understand your dilemma,” said her mom as she went around with her watering can, gently sprinkling each plant. “Sometimes friends who need us the most aren’t the easiest friends to have. You know my friend Mrs. Sondheim, don’t you?”

Janet held back a smile. Mrs. Sondheim was a widow who lived in the neighborhood. Often, she would call up Janet’s mom even very late at night and talk a long time telling strange stories and complaining about her problems. Mrs. Bloom kept a very tight schedule, but she always seemed to have plenty of time when the widow called.

“Well,” her mom continued, looking up from the bright red and deep pink flowers she was carefully transplanting. “When I first met Mrs. Sondheim, it wasn’t so easy for me to be her friend either. But when I found out she was a widow, I realized how much she really needed friends. She doesn’t have a family like we do, and when she would call me up she would sound so lonely.”

Janet listened intently as she stroked a flower.

“So,” Mrs. Bloom went on, “I decided to make the effort to be a friend for her. Certain people you have to bend over backwards for even when it’s not easy.” Janet’s mom patted down the earth around the newly transplanted flowers. “There… Just a little more water and these flowers will grow just fine. It’ll just take them a while to get used to their new home.” She smiled.

Janet sat for a moment, lost in thought, as she smelled the sweet blossoms. “Mom,” she finally said, “You helped me to decide.”

“Oh really?” Mrs. Bloom said.

“Marcie is just like these flowers,” Janet explained. “She transplanted from one country into a new one. She also needs extra care to get settled in her new home. I’m going to call her and tell her to count me in for the birthday party. And I’m going to really try to be her friend.”

Her mom, beaming, gave Janet a hug. “I’m proud of you,” she said. “With a little extra care, even the most needy flowers—and people—grow just fine.”

Nesanel Yoel Safran is a writer, chef, and a teacher/student of Jewish spirituality. He blends these assorted vocations on his blog, Soul Foodie, where you can join him on mystical cooking adventures and glean practical wisdom for the kitchen—and for living. https://soulfoodiecom.wordpress.com/