Dear Friends,
Do you ever feel like you go into Wegmans for one thing and end up with a whole shopping cart? This is not a mistake — social scientists even have a name for it, the “shopping momentum effect.” Supermarkets and other stores even arrange aisles and checkout lanes to maximize profits. As they say, one thing leads to another…
Joke: At his friend’s housewarming party, a guest asked:
“Wow, how did you suddenly end up with this beautiful house?”
The host replies: “Funny story. I went to the library for a card, but the pen didn’t work. So I stopped to buy a pen, saw notebooks on sale, and realized I needed a desk. Then I needed a bigger apartment for the desk… and one thing led to another — here we are at the housewarming!”
Rashi’s Lesson: One Mitzvah Leads to Another
In this week’s parsha, Rashi comments on a curious string of mitzvot: sending away the mother bird, building a fence around your roof, planting a vineyard without mixing species, avoiding shatnez, and wearing tzitzis.
Why are these (seemingly) random verses listed together?
Rashi explains with a famous Talmudic principle: mitzvah gorreres mitzvah — that one mitzvah leads to another.
Next, you are given the responsibility and opportunity of owning property — a vineyard — where you bring holiness by keeping the species of plants pure and not mixing them.
- You begin with compassion for G-d’s creatures: sending away the mother bird before taking the eggs.
- G-d sees your success in bringing holiness into the world and gives you the opportunity of owning a house, which you sanctify by making it safe with a guardrail.
- Finally, you are given the further opportunity of owning fine clothing, where you live with holiness by avoiding shatnez (the forbidden mixture of wool and linen) and by wearing tzitzis.
One mitzvah leads to another, each step bringing more Divine presence into your life, which is our life’s mission.
But does this mean Judaism is just a quid pro quo with G-d, where we do mitzvot to get rewards? The great Maimonides clarifies: the true reward is the mission itself. When we focus on being ambassadors of G-d, sanctifying our lives and our world, Hashem blesses us with the resources to carry out that mission.
Bringing It Home: this month’s triple word score opportunities
Small mitzvot in this month of Elul (before the Jewish new year) have what I like to call a “triple word score.” Each mitzvah has three components - the mitzvah,the fact its before the new year, and as mentioned it will lead to anther mitzvah! On a local level -here are two timely small mitzvah opportunities you can take on this week:
- Add a Mezuzah — If your home or apartment doesn’t yet have one, thanks to the Merzel Family you can receive your first kosher mezuzah for just $18. Or gift one to a friend/family member. Or add an extra mezuzah to another doorway or 2 for cost price.
👉 Get Mezuzah(s) / Scroll Check: Click here for special offers this month (And if you’re out and about this Sunday at JFest, visit our Mezuzah Booth at JFEST this Sunday, Sept. 7 • 2–5 PM at the JCC.)
- Give Your Child a Taste of Amazing Jewish Learning Experience — Come to our JKids Family Open House this Sunday or try the first class next week. A small mitzvah step that can open a lifelong connection of love for Judaism. See below or RSVP to [email protected]
Let’s fill our homes, families, and communities with mitzvot that lead to more mitzvot—opening the door to blessing and strength in the New Year.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos, Rabbi Yitzi Hein