Chayim was looking out the window of the waiting room at the clinic. He could see the stores on the other side of the street and the people and the cars passing by.

After awhile he turned to his mother, who had accompanied him the doctor. "Mommy," he said, "you know Mr. Rosenthal, the man who owns the toy store across the street?"

Chayim's mother nodded.

"Well, if he would open his store for more hours each day, he would probably have much more business. I've seen plenty of people walk up to the door, and then turn away when they see that it's closed."

"You may be right," Chayim's mother replied. "Mr. Rosenthal might have more business if his store were open for longer hours. But perhaps that's not what he really wants."

"What do you mean, Mommy?" Chayim asked. "People who own a store want to do business and make lots of money."

"Not everyone feels that way. The Torah teaches us that our goal is to make a living, not to make lots of money. It says: 'And HaShem will bless you in everything you do.' This means that everyone must do their best to have a job, an occupation. Then HaShem will send down His blessings through that job, and the person will have what he needs in order to raise his family.

"Although the Torah teaches us that we should work to make a living, that doesn't mean that we should spend all our time making money.

"I know Mr. Rosenthal. He takes very good care of his family. And he spends many hours studying and doing chessed in the community. He keeps his store open just long enough to make the money he needs. Then he turns his attention to what he's really interested in doing: studying Torah and performing deeds of kindness for others."

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The lesson Chayim's mother taught him is connected to this week's parshah. The Torah tells us, "Avraham gave Yitzchak all he had." We know that Avraham had other children. Certainly, he provided for them and gave them many things, too. Yet Yitzchak was the one to whom he gave "all he had," the things that meant the most to him.

In this passuk, the word 'Yitzchak' is talking about something deeper than just the name of Avraham's son. 'Yitzchak' is a symbol of kedushah - holiness. After the Akeidah, he was as holy as a sacrifice. It was to 'Yitzchak' - to holiness - that Avraham gave "all he had" - all his energies and efforts.

We put our energy into many different things. We put effort into making a living, but it should take up only a part of our time. Like Mr. Rosenthal, we should devote most of our time and strength to kedushah - to holiness. That's where we should give "all we have."

(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. V, p. 344)