Dear Friends,
My family and I took a vacation this past week visiting NJ and the Poconos. Good time had by all, Thank G-d! The saying goes " Now I need a vacation from the vacation." How true!
But no time for that as we have a special concert this Sunday, which is as of now sold-out (you can join wait list below if tickets become available last minute) which we are super excited for, as well as the launch of this year's I AM YISRAEL CHAI Project.
Here is a sneak peek: the first mitzvah awareness campaign is the home mitzvah of Mezuzah. And this week's Torah portion is one of the sources about the commandment of putting up kosher mezuzah scroll on our doorframes: "And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates" (Deuteronomy 11:20) which is contained in the 2nd paragraph of . The first source was
Us humans live in two parallel worlds. On the one hand there is the inner, spiritual, altruistic world. Serving G-d not because we anticipate a reward, but because it is right. This passionate, selfless approach is the essence of “Avodas Hashem”.
And then there is the world out there, the “real” world. Personal interest, battle for survival, making a living, success, “What’s in it for me “. In this world it’s difficult to think about values that are selfless and pure.
The big question is: Is there a way that one person can live in both worlds; can we build a bridge between them, and how do we do it.
I would like to share a sliver of a passage in the holy Zohar, as it is explained by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose Yahrzeit was yesterday 20 Av.
The Zohar (Kabalah) enumerates Mitzvahs which represent signs and symbols. On the body (Bris Milah), on our garments (Tzitzis), Tefillin, the dress code of a Jew in general, the Mezuzah and the laws connected to the “field” (the workplace).
Some of these signs relate to our personal self, whereas the field relates to the world outside (where we spend a large part of our lives). With all these symbols and reminders, what is the purpose of the Mezuzah? The Mezuzah is the bridge that connects the inner world to the outer world.
The Mezuzah consists of two brief paragraphs (Parshios) of the Torah. The first paragraph was in last week’s Parsha, the second in this week’s Parsha, Ekev. Both these scroll paragraphs (Parshios) contain the Mitzvah of Mezuzah. But the two paragraphs are very different in their whole language and style.
The first Parsha is the Shema, which talks of the Unity of G-d and demands a high level of selfless dedication. Love Hashem “with all your heart, with all your soul (life) and all your might (possessions)”. Give the best of yourself and of your possessions to Hashem. It concludes with the Mitzvah to fix a Mezuzah, without mentioning any benefits or rewards. Just do it, because Hashem commands you to.
The second paragraph of the Shema (from this week’s Parsha) talks in a completely different way; the language of conditions, blessings and benefits, rewards and punishment. The recipe for success: If you obey My Commandments you will have rain (success), and if you don’t you won’t, G-d forbid.
And at the end there is also the Mitzvah of Mezuzah, but this time detailing the rewards and benefits. You and your family will live longer, healthier lives.
Both paragraphs are contained in the same Mezuzah. Because we are expected incorporate both languages in our lives. On the one hand to cultivate and maintain a pure, selfless, spontaneous, unconditional love for Hashem, because it’s the right thing to do. On the other hand, to remember that Hashem’s will is that we live in the physical world to elevate it; and that by keeping the Mitzvos we bring blessings in that area of our lives.
The ideal is not a life separated from the real world; nor is it a self centered mode of existence. The ideal is to live in both worlds, where they are one and connected, as depicted by the sign of the Mezuzah.
If you want to get early access to our Mezuzah Awareness Campain to Buy a Kosher Mezuzah Scroll or check you existing scroll- you can do so here
Shabbat Shalom/Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Yitzi Hein