Every single good deed—and even a good thought—in Avodat Hashem is incredibly precious. When a person sees in the future the immense reward given for even the smallest intention, he will wish he had done more. Sometimes, even one thought of teshuvah can change everything. In this week's parashah, we read about the earth opening up and swallowing all those who joined in Korach's rebellion. Yet the Torah tells us that the sons of Korach did not die. Chazal explain that at the very last second, just before they were swallowed, they had a thought of teshuvah—and that alone saved them. The Midrash emphasizes that they didn't even have enough time to speak a word of repentance. Hashem accepted their teshuvah based solely on a thought. In last week's parashah, we learned that Kalev was promised he would enter the Land and that his children would receive an inheritance there. Rav Moshe Feinstein, in Darash Moshe , asks what Kalev did to earn such a great reward. He answers that when Kalev spoke up against the spies and expressed Emunah that Hashem could bring them into the land, for a brief moment the Jewish people believed him. Although they quickly reverted to fear and doubt, that fleeting moment of emunah was considered a moment of teshuvah. It was so precious that it brought great merit—not just to the people—but to Kalev himself as their source of inspiration. We should never underestimate anything we do in our service of Hashem. It is never "all or nothing." Every small act counts. A man shared that he had been walking with his friend Chaim, when Chaim's phone rang with a reminder that his hour of shemirat halashon was about to begin. The man found it odd—why keep it for only one hour if we are obligated to guard our speech all the time? Chaim explained that of course we try to keep these halachot at all times, but even setting aside one hour of extra vigilance is extremely valuable. It's a way to strengthen ourselves and build up consistency. Every extra moment of self-control is meaningful. Chaim then told a story he knew firsthand. His parents' neighbor, Nitzan, once called him asking for guidance on how to become fully observant. Until then, Nitzan had not kept mitzvot but said that something happened that completely changed his outlook. A few months prior, he had decided to keep a small part of Shabbat—from midnight on Friday night until 10 a.m. Shabbat morning. People laughed at him when they heard this, thinking it strange and inconsistent, but he felt it was a meaningful step he could take. He kept his commitment seriously. On one Friday night, he was out driving with friends and saw that it was 11:30 p.m. He told them firmly that no matter where they were, he would be getting out of the car at 11:50. His friends tried to persuade him to stay with them until around 12:15, but he wouldn't budge. At 11:50, he stepped out of the car and turned off his phone. He was far from home, so he slept on a bench and planned to take a taxi at 10 a.m. when his personal observance of Shabbat would end. When he got home the next morning, his parents were overwhelmed with joy and tears. They had just heard that the car he had been in the night before was in a devastating accident. Everyone in the car had died. They thought he had been with them. He told them that it was his decision to keep even a small part of Shabbat that had saved his life. That moment became a turning point for Nitzan. He decided from then on that he wanted to become fully observant. Every little act in Avodat Hashem matters. Even a moment of restraint, a fleeting thought of teshuvah, or a limited commitment can be the key to transformation—or even salvation. We can never underestimate the power and value of the smallest efforts or intentions. Shabbat Shalom