Close To Torah

Says the pasuk in Tehillim “lev tahor bru li alokim v’ruach nachon b’kirbi”^[1] which comfortably translates as “Create a pure heart Hashem and spirit as new amongst me”. The point that needs emphasis is that Dovid HaMelech is asking Hashem not to simply change his heart but to create a new one that is tahor. This needs explanation which must first include mention of another topic pertaining to this issue. The difference between chidush and briah, chidush is the renewal of something that is already created. Briah is the creation of something that ceased to previously exist, therefore it is a considerably great difference to refer to the transformation of one’s heart from stages of impurity to purity to be treated as an entirely new entity. This is the great lesson that separates Man from everything else in the World, the choice of progression.

In our tefillos we all begin with the request to give us the strength to even begin our tefillah, meaning without it we would lack the ability to do so. It is the power of tefillah that enables us to request the abilities to carry out the will of Hashem, and that tefillah is so great that we must even request the strength to make this tefillah. It is clear that through the endless kindness that Hashem bestows upon us why must be ask to ask? This is presuming it is clear why we must ask with our tefillos from the beginning, and of course why we must do anything and it not handed right to us. As with everything, there is a reason, and it is always because that is the best thing for us. We must do Mitzvos for the most basic reason since we are obligated to do so. The great Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l used to always quote the Sefer HaChinuch saying that the expression Taamay HaMitzvah accurately translates as the taste of the mitzvah, and he explained that one eats food for its sustenance not for its taste. Therefore the reason we do mitzvos is because it is vital for us to do as that is the g’zayrah (decree) of the Melech, and the taste alone is an independent inspiration. It is the Taamay HaMitzvah that comes along with the actual mitzvah that is unquestionably intended for out experience by observance of the mitzvah. It is that taste that we derive great benefit in seeing how far a single act goes and grasping a greater sense of the kindness that is endlessly poured upon us.

The great Rambam writes in his Mishnah Torah^[2] that the mitzvah of vidoy on Yom HaKippurim begins prior to the onset of the evening before you eat, because of the possibility that you will choke before you are misvadeh. The question that troubles me is why is it that we are more concerned about choking then and not always!? In my opinion the simple reason is because there is a greater expression of Midas HaDin at that time more than others. If we lived our lives in a constant panic with the fear that the next moment all that we have could be taken from us, we would be a wreck. I thought that has always been dear to me is “A Life of fear is not a Life, a Life without fear is Death, rather you must live Life with fear”. That means that fear must accompany your actions but must not be solely guided by them at all times, because it cannot exist in such a condition. This is clear from Chazal that state that the World was originally created with the Midas HaDin but Hashem saw that it could not stand, rather only din can exist under the cover of Ahavah. That Ahavah is what we are constantly embracing when we have no zchusim, we aren’t worthy of anything. The great chesed of Hashem is apparent as He finds favor upon us, even when we have consciously went against his ways. This chesed is that second before choose for the good, or for the worse it is that chesed that enables us to even have to ability to choose bad and be allowed to carry it out. It is the greatest chesed of the Free-Will that has been established in this world, that even the actions that we do that are seemingly horrific and against our very existence, it is the chesed that enables us to be able to choose to act and be accountable for our actions.

1. Tehilim, 51, 12 [↩]
2. Teshuvah, 2, 7 [↩]

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Categories: Hashkafah Tags: Shviras HaMidos, Tefillah