I intently shoveled my sidewalks yesterday! We’ve had quite a bit of snow this week. I shoveled a path through Monday’s blizzard but yesterday we had a significant snow and some winds causing drifts so I broke out the shovel again.
I am currently living in a community that has sidewalks. I am on a corner lot, so I have lots of sidewalks to shovel when it snows. In my old neighborhood I only had a driveway to shovel. There was no concern for community, it was my driveway and I could choose to shovel it or not.
Having sidewalks is different. Especially in this walking community. Knowing that my Orthodox Jewish neighbors would be trudging through the snow in a few short hours to go to Shabbat Services gave me a reason to shovel my sidewalk right away! I felt that I couldn’t let them down. (Also you never know who has an Uncle Moshe, the personal injury lawyer! 
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Sidewalks, I’ve decided, promote a feeling of community. As I looked out my window this morning I was happy to see that the walks I shoveled yesterday were still clear and being traversed by a group of Orthodox families on their way to Synagogue services. It enriches my life and warms my heart to have neighbors to care for!
Here a plowing service takes care of my driveway, so I have no shoveling concerns for my own behalf . It is for my neighbors that I maintain my walkways, especially when Shabbat is approaching. My neighbors observe the Shabbat as their ancient tradition mandates, by walking, not driving to the Synagogue. It is in respect for them and their tradition I shovel my walks, grateful for my opportunity to do a mitzvah! Shabbat Shalom!
