Welcome to the short, practical Lelamed Weekly Dvar and Daily Aliyah. As always, you can Order The Daily Aliyah <https://mosaicapress.com/product/the-daily-aliyah/> and receive your hard copy of these daily practical and relevant Torah thoughts (all proceeds go to Daily Giving), or join this Whatsapp group <https://chat.whatsapp.com/G35Ne4mpYsm3RLPDPnPSKC> to receive one per day. I hope you find this meaningful... _______________________________________________ As Moshe prepares the people to enter their own land, surrounded by neighbors who are unfriendly toward them and their values, he warns them not to intermarry, make covenants, or concede to other nations. He then reminds them that they are unique and explains that G-d has chosen them not because they are numerous but because they are the “least of all the peoples” (7:7). What does our size have to do with covenants and compromises with neighbors? Daniel Loewenstein suggests that our self-esteem may sometimes be affected by how small of a nation we are. One such example is when Shechem abducted Yaakov’s daughter and flippantly offered to marry her. While Yaakov was frozen with fear for his survival while considering their proposal, his sons were not afraid to confront a more substantial group. Similarly, as a small nation fighting for its survival amongst our enemies, we must stand proudly for our morals and convictions despite our small size or any other handicap. Having healthy confidence in ourselves and in our principles is crucial to maintaining control over outside detractors and influences. Shlomo Ressler _____________________________________________ Quotation of the week: "The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground."