Dear Friends,
Do you have an elevator pitch?
In the business world, it's a familiar concept. Imagine you're in an elevator, and next to you stands a billionaire who could fund your business and change your life forever. You have just 30 to 60 seconds to make your case. You need to be clear, focused, and persuasive.
Many people have an elevator pitch ready. Others are still working to define their mission and goals. Either way, having a strong, concise message can be a powerful tool.
This week, I discovered the most powerful elevator pitch ever created. It's only three words long.
And it doesn't come from a tech startup, a Fortune 500 company, or a nonprofit. It comes from our Parsha, Parshat Naso.
So what is the elevator pitch of this week's Parsha?
It's brilliantly simple: be an elevator.
Yes, really.
Parshat Naso is long and filled with many events and mitzvot. But even before reading the content, the name tells us everything. Naso is a command. It means: lift up, elevate. In short, be an elevator.
So who should you lift up?
Start with yourself. Could you use a boost? Then think about those around you — family, friends, even a stranger in the supermarket. Chances are, they could use one too.
We just celebrated Shavuot, when G-d gave us the Torah. That moment, 3,337 years ago, gave us purpose and direction. From then on, we were empowered to bring holiness into the world. And with it, meaning and joy.
It’s ironic. We live in the most comfortable era in history. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. Yet many still feel low, disconnected, or overwhelmed.
The Torah recognizes this. It gives us both a command and a solution: lift up. Yourself. Others. Every day.
How do we become an elevator?
By tethering ourselves higher. When we connect more deeply with G-d, we begin to feel better on the inside. That inner strength enables us to be a positive influence on the people around us.
And guess what? Even the billionaire in the elevator next to you might need a little inspiration. Opportunities to lift others are all around us.
(Thank you to Rabbi Mendy Kaminker for sharing his wisdom with us).
Wishing you a good Shabbos,
Rabbi Yitzi Hein