B"H
Monday, Iyar 10, 5780 / May 4, 2020 (25th day of the Omer)
One of the many mitzvot in Parshat Kedoshim which we read last Shabbat, is: “You shall keep My judgments and My statutes to walk in them.” (Leviticus 18:4).
Another verse in the Parsha says, “You shall observe My statutes and My laws, which man should do and live in them. I am G-d.” (Leviticus 18:5).
Q. What is the meaning, “To walk in them?”
A.The Torah emphasizes that we must not be static, but go forward– to continuously advance in the observance of Torah and mitzvot. One should not be satisfied with yesterday’s and today’s accomplishments, but always strive to be a better person and go forward.
Another explanation is that when a person is away from their home and Jewish environment, on business or leisure, one must not become lax in the observance of mitzvot. One must keep the mitzvot, “to walk in them” – even when one is on the go, they must follow the Torah and Mtzvot.
In the Shema prayer which we recite each day, morning and night, the Torah commands us, “You shall love G-d your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to you children, and you shall speak of them when you are sitting at home and when you go on the road, and when you lie down and when you rise up..”
Q. What does the Torah mean when it says that one must “live in them”?
A. Mitzvot can be performed by habit, without any feeling whatsoever. One can pray every day, give charity etc., but without any feeling. There is no life in the mitzvah.
When that is the case, the mitzvah may at times feel a burden. The Torah teaches us that the proper way to perform mitzvot is to “live in them.” Life is associated with feeling and excitement. Mitzvot should be done with feeling and excitement.
Before his passing, Moshe tells the Jewish people, “You, who cling to G-d, are all alive today.” Through the mitzvot we connect to G-d, the source of life, and we live through them.
This verse is very practical to this time. From this verse our sages also derived that when there is a question of life and death one must violate the mitzvah in order to live. A life and death situation overrides almost all mitzvot like fasting on Yom Kippur, observance of Shabbat or the laws of Kashrut, etc. G-d gave us the mitzvot so that we shall live in them spiritually and also physically. May G-d grant us and our families good health and good life.
HAVE A VERY GOOD HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY