- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Matot
About Vows and Sensitivity
Take it upon yourself, without a vow, to correct one thing in your life, and these days will work their true action - to add goodness in the world.
Parashat Matot deals with vows. We are very reluctant to take vows and make commitments. And rightly so, because 'it's preferable to not make a vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it'. At the same time, it should be understood that the actual connotation of the vow is a kind of soulful glimmer and not just irresponsible enthusiasm.
When one is in a state of great joy or, contrastingly, in great distress - and filled with a tremendous need to turn to the Master of the world and accept to improve one’s actions - this feeling is not a falsification but an authentic expression of our true will; a kind of lightning bolt that illuminates the darkness for a split second; therefore, we anchor this in a practical commitment – so that this feeling does not 'run away from' us after the event fades.
Take it upon yourself, without a vow, to correct one thing in your life, and these days will work their true action - to add goodness in the world. And once all this is over - this is what will remain.
When one is in a state of great joy or, contrastingly, in great distress - and filled with a tremendous need to turn to the Master of the world and accept to improve one’s actions - this feeling is not a falsification but an authentic expression of our true will; a kind of lightning bolt that illuminates the darkness for a split second; therefore, we anchor this in a practical commitment – so that this feeling does not 'run away from' us after the event fades.
Take it upon yourself, without a vow, to correct one thing in your life, and these days will work their true action - to add goodness in the world. And once all this is over - this is what will remain.