On my walk to the Agudath of Highland Park/Edison a few days after the recent blizzard in New Jersey, the kind the Northeast hasn’t seen since the late 90s, everything was blanketed in snow. The world felt quieter, slower, heavier.

The town had instructed everyone to shovel. Businesses were responsible for their storefronts, and homeowners cleared their steps. At some intersections, there was barely enough room for one person to squeeze through. Walking required strategy, balance, and a good pair of boots.

At one particularly impassable patch, there were two massive boot prints stamped deep into the snow. One person, equipped with serious winter footwear, had decided, “I’m going through.” He or she stepped once, then again, and somehow made it across.

Days later, those two impressions remained, frozen. Now they weren’t just boot prints. They were a bridge.

I placed my feet directly into them and crossed safely.

After I stepped forward, I thought of the timeless teaching of our Sages: “ma’aseh avot siman l’banim–the actions of the fathers are a sign for the children.”

Our forefathers–Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov–did more than live righteous lives. They carved pathways through a spiritual wilderness. They faced famine, exile, moral darkness, and uncertainty. In doing so, they imprinted pathways into the spiritual fabric of the Jewish soul.

Because they walked that road, we can too.

Their courage froze into history, becoming footholds for generations.

That unknown trailblazer who first crossed the snow might have been simply trying to get to work, the grocery store, or home. This individual may never have known that days later others would step exactly where he or she stepped.

Sometimes we don’t see the impact we are making, but every step leaves a footprint. A parent who chooses patience instead of anger. A friend who models integrity in a difficult moment. A neighbor who consistently shows up to everyone’s simchas (celebrations).

Influence doesn’t require grand speeches and dramatic gestures. Often, it’s the quiet, determined step forward, the simple act of “I’m going this way,” that creates a path for others.

Judaism teaches that we carry the spiritual DNA of our forefathers. Their faith, resilience and grit run through us. When we face our own “blizzards,” whether personal struggles, communal challenges, or moments of doubt, we’re not stepping into untouched snow; we’re stepping into their footprints.

“Ma’aseh avot siman l’banim” isn’t only about ancient history. It’s about us, today.

We all are someone’s precedent. Our children, our students, our friends, our communities–they’re watching where we place our feet.

The small things matter. The way we speak about others, the way we treat each other, the way we respond when life is difficult. Each act leaves an imprint.

May it be that the steps we take today become safe passage for the generations who follow, helping to build a world of faith, strength, and beauty, one footprint at a time.

Rabbi Bob Barocas regularly gives a hashkafa shiur to the Edison Chabura. You can listen to it here: https://bobbarocas.com/shiurim/.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)