Torah Portion - September 18, 2008
Rabbi Mark S. Kram, Temple Beth Or, 9/20/08
Sometimes we find ourselves doing things and not even realizing we’ve done them! Who has had the experience of a spouse or child, co-worker or friend saying to you, “You just did that!” It’s not about absent-mindedness, but possibly overload. Our brains are so full most of the time and we do so many things at one time – multi-tasking – each day by wrote that we may not be mindful all of the time.
There is a way to observe mitzvot, the commandments. Judaism emphasizes doing over believing. So the ways in which we carry out those mitzvot we choose to incorporate into our lives becomes important.
The instructions in this week’s parasha are extremely specific. In fact, part of the formulation in this week’s portion was directly added to the Hagaddah for Passover!
As Deuteronomy 26:13 says the formulation, “…I have neither transgressed nor neglected any of Your commandments.” The rabbis asked, "Does this mean to say that the reader was perfect in observance?" or does it mean something else? One commentator suggests that the verse means that I have not any of those mitzvot mindlessly, perfunctorily, or without feeling (Sfat Emet- Etz Hayyim).
Here, the Torah reminds us that when performing an act which opens up our awareness and expands our connection to God or a higher power or the Force – that we should recognize that moment of doing in some way and truly realize what we are doing. Bringing our awareness to a new level.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Mark S. Kram
