In this week’s parsha, Eikev, Rashi notes that the word eikev can mean “heel.” He explains that this hints to the mitzvot a person might “tread upon with their heel”—the small commandments, the ones we might overlook because they seem less significant.
It’s a striking thought: often, the things that seem small in the moment are exactly the things that shape our lives.
Jordan Peterson the famous clinical psychologist speaks about the power of our daily habits. The actions we repeat each day—often without much thought—are the building blocks of our character and our future. Whether we notice it or not, the small routines form the architecture of our lives.
Think about it. Every morning you wake up. Some people make their bed right away, and at the end of the day they return to a clean, inviting space. You brush your teeth for two minutes. You have your morning coffee. You help the kids get ready for school. Maybe you drive them, maybe you walk them. Maybe you go to pray..
These aren’t dramatic, headline-worthy moments—but they’re the fabric of life.
The beauty is, you can take just one part of your routine and improve it.
If you don’t usually eat breakfast, start by making a healthy breakfast one morning a week.
If you’re often rushing, choose one morning to slow down and walk to shul instead of driving.
Maybe commit to having dinner with your family once a week, or taking one child out for breakfast one day a week.
At first, these seem small—barely worth mentioning. But give it a few months and you’ll start to notice something: these minor changes, repeated week after week, become part of you. They create a pattern of improvement. And once that pattern is established, you’ll be ready to tackle another small change.
Walk to work once a week. Go for an evening stroll with your spouse. Spend 10 minutes reading something uplifting before bed. Each of these is a “small mitzvah” in the Rashi sense—easily overlooked, but profoundly powerful when done consistently.
Time ticks by regardless. The days turn into weeks, the weeks into months. But if we look after the small things—those little, “heel-level” actions—over time they transform the whole.
This is the message of Eikev: greatness is built in the small, quiet acts we choose not to ignore. Tend to them, and you’ll see big changes unfold in your life—slowly, steadily, and lastingly.
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About the author:
Elimelech Levy is a Rabbi and Coach in Sydney Australia where he runs Chabad Youth NSW, A youth organisation that's focused on providing Jewish enrichment that's educational, fun, social & affordable. Elimelech received his MBA from Macquarie University in 2021 then chose to use his studies and experience to become a Results Coach and member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) helping people take control of their lives through establishing goals and working towards them. In 2023, Elimelech established the Knei Lecha Chover program focused on matching pairs of Rabbis around the world and providing foundational tools for them to coach each other regularly, helping them to avoid significant fees needed for professional coaching sessions.
Elimelech can be reached via his website elilevy.com.au
