B"H

Friday, Sivan 11, 5776 / June 17, 2016 - Hakhel year

This Shabbat, the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot, we read Parshat Naso, the second Parsha in the book of Numbers (Bamidbar). In Israel Parshat Beha’alotcha is read.

Parshat Naso is the biggest Parsha of the Torah.

Each Shabbat between Pesach (Passover) and Rosh Hashanah, we recite the Pirkei Avot (Chapters of our Fathers). After reciting the Pirkei Avot, we conclude with the saying of Rabbi Chanania son of Akashia, “The Holy one, blessed is He, wished to confer merit upon Israel; therefore He gave them Torah and mitzvot in abundance."

The Torah commands us to fulfill 613 mitzvot. There are minor differences of opinion as to which mitzvot make up the 613, but all the sages agree on the number 613.

The Talmud explains that the mitzvot are divided in two general categories. There are 248 "Mitzvot Aseh" - positive commandments and 365 "Mitzvot Lo Taaseh" - negative commandments. 

248 represent the limbs/organs of a person. The number 365 represents the days of the year. Mitzvot serve to involve and protect a person's whole being and to cover every day of the year.

Commentaries explain that G-d gave us Torah and mitzvot in abundance for our benefit. We should aim to perform all the mitzvot, but with so many mitzvot, there will be at least one mitzvah which each person can perform to perfection. We must be careful not to change the mitzvot to conform to our standards. Rather we must raise ourselves to the standard of the mitzvot.

The following parable of the Magid of Dubna explains this point. A general once toured his training camps to check his soldiers' level of readiness. In one of the camps, the soldiers were shooting arrows at targets. Upon observing closely, he noticed that one of the soldier's arrows were all in the center of the target. The general was very impressed.

"You are a great marksman!  How did you manage to get every arrow exactly in the center?" the general asked with amazement.

That's simple," the soldier replied. "The other soldiers first set up their target, then they try to hit it. I, on the other hand, first shoot my arrows, only after do I place the target around them. Thus, I never miss..."

G-d gave us many mitzvot so that we can constantly aim for perfection at some of them. He even commanded us to perform mitzvot which we would logically do on our own, even without being commanded, in order that we may be rewarded for them. But it is far better to aim at the Divine targets, even if we miss a few, rather than create our own targets in order not to feel satisfied and accomplished.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:27 / Shabbat ends: 9:45