Thursday, May 19, 2011

Bechukotai 5771

The name of this week's parsha, Bechukotai, means "in My statutes." The parsha begins with the conditional statement: "If you will go in My statutes, and you will observe My commandments and perform them..."

What does it mean to "go in" G-d's statutes?

Rashi notes that the phrase cannot refer to the observance of all of the Torah's mitzvot because that is the subject of the second phrase. By inference, Rashi concludes that "go in My statutes" means that we must diligently labor in Torah study.

Rabbi Yisroel Jungreis and Rabbi Osher Anshel Jungreis in Torah for Your Table write that "going" connotes constant movement. "We never graduate from Torah study; as long as we are alive, we must continue to delve into its deep secrets…for it is only when we study and teach with passion, with every fiber of our beings, that we will reap the full benefits of this toil."

The Admor of Slonim explains in his Netivot Shalom that the term "go in My statutes" means that we go along the path of life in a manner that is consistent with the Torah's statutes. This does not refer to the technical fulfillment of the mitzvot. Rather, Torah with all its mitzvot, teaches us how we must live and think. We can apply this "Torah attitude" to every aspect of our lives, even those not governed by specific laws.

As Jews, we follow the path of our ancestors; as parents, we must ensure that our children follow in our own footsteps. We must be especially conscious to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk." Rabbi Tzadok of Lublin explains that learning Torah has the power to guide people and protect us from sin. Those who do not seek the deeper meaning of Torah do not receive its spiritual guidance. They cannot be considered to be learning Torah, but only speaking the words of Torah. If we want our children to "go in" G-d's statutes, then we must "go in" them ourselves.

No comments:

Post a Comment