In the last Sedra of Genesis Jacob blesses his children prior to his demise. In Chapter 49 verse 28 the Torah reports,

" And he (Jacob) blessed them each man according to his blessing he blessed them."

Rashi explains what the verse means when it says each man according to his blessing, "The blessing that was in the future to come upon each individual"

The concept is further elaborated when Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons. Jacob gives the blessing due to the first born son instead to the younger of the two. When Joseph tries to get Jacob to reverse the process and give the first born's blessing to Menashe, Jacob replies " I know my son I know...however the younger son will be greater then him".

Reb Yerucham Levovitz says that Jacob was telling Joseph that the giving of the blessing was not his choice, as the Torah says, he blessed them each man according to his blessing.

In Kings Chapter 2 verse 4 is the story of the prophet Elisha who was begged by a widow to help her escape the poverty which was threatening to have appalling consequences for her and her family. Elisha asks her what she possesses at home and the woman explains she has nothing at all except one small bottle of oil. Elisha tells the woman to fetch as many containers as she can borrow from her neighbours and pours from the oil which miraculously fills container after container. The Blessing of Elisha illustrates how a blessing works. The person able to give a blessing, takes what is already there and makes it grow and flower !

Leah knew prophetically that Jacob was fated to have twelve sons. As there were four wives, then each could expect three sons. When Yehudah,her fourth son was born she choose a name which displayed then fact that she recognised that the source of her extra blessing came from G-d. This quality of recognising that success comes from G-d is the essential quality for a Jewish King. Yehudah inherited the characteristic from his mother and therefore founded the royal Jewish household.

Reb Yerucham, states that this demonstrates a crucial Jewish principal. The growth of a Jewish individual is simply focusing on the good qualities they posses and nurturing those; everything else falls into place as a consequence !

The Talmud says " Anyone who fixes a place for themselves in Shul, the Alm-ghty will help them and it will be said of them after they pass on...that was a saint that was a humble person he was a follower of Abraham our father"

Why should such a eulogy flow from such a simple thing as having a fixed place for praying?

A while ago my wife commented that my blazer was looking a bit past it's best. She told me to make my usual visit to Marks and Spencers and by a new one. I went and bought a new blazer. When I returned I showed it to my wife and asked her what she thought. The reply was that it looked like all the other blazers I had bought from the same place. I looked in the mirror and agreed about the jacket but then I became aware of something else, my trousers looked in pretty poor condition. Before I had bought the jacket they looked fine but now, next to the new blazer they appeared embarrassing. I returned and purchased new trousers. Then I noticed my shirt, how could I have been wearing such a rag? A new jacket, trousers and shirt all brought it home to me that my tie simply wasn't good enough and all together my new outfit made me realise how scuffed and cracked my shoes had become (my wife is somehow strangely reluctant to comment on my balzer any more).

If someone is keen to fix a place in Shul for themselves, it is obvious that prayer is "Their thing". Later someone may tell them that the Talmud says that G-d detests egotists, the prayers of proud and self centred people don't get through! The person starts to work on developing humility and so on and so on.

At the end of the person's life it will be said they were a saint and humble they became all those things from their one natural affinity to Torah values.

This is the key for success in Judaism....concentrate on that which comes naturally to you and at which you are best. A sense or embarrasment and inconsistency will soon pull the weaker parts of your Jewishness into shape.