I recently finished the Harry Potter series (again) and began thinking, “what would I do if I had an invisibility cloak?” At first, I began imagining how I would be able to live without any financial difficulties. Anytime I needed food, I’d slip on my cloak and go to the supermarket. When no one is looking, I could take food off the shelf and put it under my cloak. If I wanted something that did not fit under my cloak, I could just sneak into the bank and when the vault is opened, I would jump in wearing my cloak. Then I could walk out with loads of money being completely invisible. I could also finally get some revenge on my co-worker who I hate so much. As he’s walking down the hall, I can trip him or hit him in the stomach. When he turns to see who did it, he will never realize it was me as I’ll be invisible. Oh how great it would be!

But then I remembered – even though I’m invisible it does not mean that I can do all sorts of sins. I still need to follow the Torah. Therefore, I can’t do any of these desires I had in my head.

It then came to me… there is something I can do! I can do mitzvos with the invisibility cloak over me. I can secretly do acts of chesed for others. By being invisible I can bring peace between people. I can secretly and anonymously give to the poor. I can perform the greatest acts of chesed with modesty. I could do all of these things with an invisibility cloak!

Normally, I begin my Divrei Simcha by quoting a verse from the parsha, but this week I did not. This is because there is something missing in this week’s parsha – it is Moshe’s name. Ever since Moshe was born in Parshas Shemos, he has been the headline of every parsha, but his name is not found in this week’s parsha. The commentators state that Moshe asked not to be in this week’s parsha because it talks about the clothing of the Cohain Gadol. Moshe is not the Cohain Gadol and therefore he did not need his name mentioned.

Some people need to be recognized for everything they do – even when they do nothing really special. They want a plaque to be put up whenever they make a donation. They want a seat on the stage so everyone can look at them. They want their picture in the newspaper. They want to see themselves on the Jumbo-tron during a baseball game. People want to be seen.

Moshe was the exact opposite. He wanted to be hidden.

I don’t own an invisibility cloak, but we can learn a lesson from it. It is a good thing to be hidden from others – not only when we want to do something sneaky (which my children would love when they take a late snack), but even when we perform the greatest acts. We can do beautiful acts of chesed that deserve lots of praise, but even though this is true, if we perform it modestly and hidden, it is even greater.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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