The Significance of Insignificance

Seeing the hidden power in what seems small—ourselves, our actions, and even a single word

This past week, our family took a vacation over Purim to the Caesarea area of Israel. We needed a break from the usual hustle and volume of in-town Purim, so the holiday weekend proved to be the perfect opportunity. On Purim morning, we went to the ancient Roman port in Caesarea to enjoy the water and the fresh air. It turned out to be a surprisingly popular destination for Purim morning.

As I stood in the very place where some truly great people had stood before me, as well as some truly not great ones, I looked out at the sea and watched the waves for a while, lost in thought.

I noticed the sun shining, reflecting off each and every wave like tiny diamonds. It was breathtaking. I tried capturing the enormity of it on my iPhone, but apparently, that scene was reserved for my neshama. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t quite capture it.

I realized then that each wave is unique. There is something special about each one. It moves with purpose, beyond my grasp, yet Hashem shines the sun upo…