Living with the Parsha
Say a Little, Do a Lot

Ray lay on the couch talking on the phone, her feet dangling over the arm of the seat. "Okay, well, I'll make the salads, cucumber, pasta, whatever. Hmm, yes I think we should have a green vegetable, green beans? I can do that as well. Oh, and some baked potatoes or something. You'll do burgers you say. I can also do the cakes, yes sure, hopefully my brother Dan will help me with that. He's really good at that sort of thing. Okeydokes, see you tomorrow then, bye." She dropped the phone next to her and closed her eyes.

Her sister Sarah looked at her from across the room where she was working on an essay. "What are you promising to do?" Sarah asked Ray.

Ray looked up with a frown. "Oh, we're having a surprise birthday party for Leah on Monday night."

Her sister looked at her with surprise. "But five minutes ago you were going on about how much homework you have to do and how you are falling behind. Is there no one else to help with all the cooking?"

Ray shrugged, "Yes, of course there is. But she's my best friend, and I can do it, so why not." She frowned. "Logistically it is a bit of a problem, though. I'm not sure when I'll prepare it all. On Monday I also have this French test."

"I can help you a bit," said Sarah. "But only for around an hour or so. Really, you should think about what you were saying last Friday night."

"What was I saying?" asked Ray, looking puzzled.

"Well you were telling everyone about Abraham and his guests," said Sarah.

"Abraham told the angels that he would bring them a bit of bread; in fact he brought them a whole meal with meat and everything. We learn from Abraham, 'Say a little; do a lot'. This week's portion however, speaks of Efron, the man who sold Abraham the cave to bury Sarah his wife. Efron said that he would give the cave to Abraham free of charge. In the end, Efron ended up cheating Abraham and taking more money than Abraham had offered by using faulty weights. Efron was acting in the way of 'Say a lot; do a little'."

"So what has that got to do with it?" asked Ray.

"Look, I'm not trying to put you off helping. But perhaps you should offer to do what is practical and then you will be able to fulfill it all."

"Yes, but Efron didn't want to do what he said he would do. He knew all along he wanted to be paid a lot of money for the field. When he said he would give it to Abraham for nothing he knew that he didn't mean that. But I really do want to help make a party for Leah. So there's no comparison!"

"Okay, okay, you're right", said Sarah. "I'm sorry to suggest it. But still, if you take on to do too much you might end up not doing it…."

"So you mean it would come to the same thing?" said Ray, laughing. "Okay, I hear what you're saying. I'll call up Rachel or Abigail. They offered to cook some stuff, but haven't been given anything to do. That will make things easier…"

"And more likely to happen!" said Sarah.