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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Kdoshim
This week’s parsha contains many varied and different mitzvoth which deal with all areas of human life and experience. In fact, the parsha contains the greatest number of mitzvoth in the Torah. It is not coincidental that this plethora of mitzvoth occurs in the parsha of kdoshim.
The Torah intends to point out to us that mitzvoth are the building blocks - the stepping stones to achieving the goal of kdoshim. However, the mitzvoth therefore are not to be seen as being an end in themselves.
The true and intended end and goal is kdoshim. The mitzvoth are the Torah’s description of the means available to achieve that end goal. We pay great attention to the mitzvoth, their halacha and minutiae, and correctly and necessarily so.
But many times people become bogged down in the mitzvoth without realizing the goal of kdoshim that lies at the heart and purpose of mitzvoth. The Talmud compares mitzvoth to silver, money, wealth. Just as wealth is only a means to do good and achieve a better life and should never be viewed as the end and final goal itself, so too the mitzvoth are the beginning of the process of human elevation and not the end goal all in itself.
Judaism emphasizes the means and not just the goal. Both the means and goal are prescribed to us by heavenly fiat. For Jews, attainment of kdoshim is an elusive target.
All of Jewish history has shown that those who attempted to achieve kdoshim without the means of mitzvoth, in the main have failed. But even punctilious observance of mitzvoth does not always guarantee kdoshim.
Ramban in his famous comment states that one can be a ‘naval’ - an objectionable, obnoxious, even obscene person - within the parameters of seeming Torah observance.
The entire thrust of the famed Mussar movement in nineteenth century Lithuania and of the Chasidic revolution was to rectify this matter. God wants not only our mechanical observance of mitzvoth, as important as that is, but also our heartfelt commitment to be a morally better person.
Thus the Torah’s demand is not an unreasonable one for it describes the only way to achieve true humanity and immortality. By using the mitzvoth as our guide in life’s behavior and by remembering that behind the mitzvoth, so to speak, stands God to Whom we are eventually responsible for our actions, thoughts and deeds, we have an opportunity to reach that sublime goal of being kdoshim.
The discipline of mitzvoth creates an opportunity for spiritual growth and greatness. But it is up to us to truly exploit that opportunity to its fullest.
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(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
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Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
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Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
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Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
