Three contractors were touring the White House on the same day.

One was from New York, another from Missouri, and the third from Florida. At the end of the tour, the guard asked them what they did for a living. When they each replied that they were contractors, the guard said, "Hey we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don't you guys take a look at it and give me your bids."

First the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencils, did some measuring and said, "I figure the job will run about $900 - $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me."

Next was the Missouri contractor. He also took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations and said, "Looks like I can do this job for $700 - $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me."

Finally, the guard asks the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, the contractor says, "$2700."

The guard, incredulous, looks at him and says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"

"Easy," says the contractor from New York, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri."

Jokes aside, there is something to be said about an honest day’s work.  The feeling of having accomplished something by our own hand, the knowledge that we have made our world a better place is hardwired into our souls.

This is represented in a fascinating way in the Torah’s narrative of how the two sets of tablets containing the 10 Commandments (Luchot) were produced.

The first set of tablets was fashioned by G-d Himself.  Moses was not required to actively participate in their formation.

This is in stark contrast to the second set of tablets.  To receive these tablets (which were presented to the Jewish People only after they had worshipped the golden calf) Moses had to climb Mount Sinai, where he received the commandment to “pesol lekha shnei luchot avanim korishonim”, "Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first".

It was out of the barren, hard rock found at the top of the mountain that he was to hammer out new Tablets.  With his own hands he had to carve, chisel and shape the granite-like stone.

When Moses was done, and he came down the mountain, with the second set of luchot, the Torah tells us that he did not know that the skin of his face shone.  His face shone with a new light--a radiance that comes only to those who achieve a lofty goal after great trial and toil; the kind of light that bathes the soul of inspired prophets and true saints.

Even ordinary people know what a difference there is in feeling between that which is handed to them and that which they have to obtain. Things that are given do not always provide true satisfaction. They may help make life more comfortable, but seldom will make it happier. But things that require effort and struggle--goals that are attained through the process of pesol lekha --provide contentment and sometimes even karnei hod --"rays of glory"-- that make hearts full and faces shine.

There are people who have made huge fortunes. They gambled and won. My educated guess is that as a result of easy victories and successes no rays of glory will be detected on their faces. But I did see faces radiating pride and joy on those who had made their way to the top after a long, tedious and arduous climb.

There was a time when conditions were favorable to Jewish observance; when it was normal and natural to be a believing and pious Jew. There was a maximum of encouragement from within the Jewish camp and a minimum of discouragement from without. The spirit was similar to the one that prevailed at the time of the giving of the first luchot. Things have changed since then. The world, the street, the place of business --the entire milieu--- are not in favor of Jewish piety and observance. In times like these, it is only those who have the courage of their convictions who are able to follow the pesal lekha route and thus gain for themselves and their religion karnei hod.

In the struggle for Jewish survival, we often stand isolated and alone. The struggle for goodness and morality, often feels like one that we have to undertake single-handedly.  This has been the story of our long and difficult Exile.  But it is the effort that we have put and continuously put into our faith that has created the shining achievement of a World Rectified.

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