- Love of God - Whose Obligation Is It?
Rivka Olenick
-
- Shimon the Righteous was one of the last of the Men of the Great
Assembly. He used to say: "The world stands on three things - on
the Torah, service and deeds of kindness." Pirkei Avos 1:2
-
- In developing one's love of God, avas Hashem men and women have to
be involved in the three things that the world stands on - Torah,
service and good deeds. There is no other way to love God. A person
can have an appreciation for the entire system of Torah, but how can
one have a real appreciation for the system unless one learns what the
system is? How can anyone be involved in service, performing the
commandments if we don't understand what the commandments mean? If
performing deeds of kindness are based on the Will of The Creator than
every person has to know what His will is, and why and how we perform
it. So, doesn't everyone, male and female have a chiuv, an obligation
of avas Hashem, love of God?
-
- "But how come I don't have an obligation to learn Torah?"
women often ask. Why does one need an obligation to obtain knowledge?
Obtaining this knowledge is voluntary. Would you involve yourself in
learning and love of God only as an obligation - isn't there a need to
know what your real purpose in life is which is to develop love of
God?
-
- After the Torah reading on the Sabbath we say: "It is a tree of
life for those who grasp it, and its supporters are praiseworthy. Its
ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. Lengthy
days are at its right; at its left are wealth and honor. Hashem
desired for the sake of its righteousness, that the Torah be made
great and glorious." Didn't God give the Torah to us to maintain
its' greatness and to continuously glorify it's greatness? The Creator
has given us all the wonderful gifts life has to offer, family, our
homes, our physical needs met and the means to sustain our lives. The
Sabbath, the holidays, and the opportunity for continuous enjoyment
that thought and wisdom provide are also gifts! We express our
appreciation for the greatest gift of Torah through the obligation of
love of God and we do this with sincere gratitude. Isn't our existence
based on fulfilling a purpose? Isn't that purpose to fulfill the Will
of God and have love of God? Isn't this the only reason we were
created? It is. So, a woman may learn as much as she wants in any area
voluntarily if that's what she desires. To enhance her love of God,
she is obligated to learn and understand the commandments that were
given specifically to her: taking challa and candle lighting and the
laws of family purity given to married woman. All three commandments
were given to her so that she may continuously sanctify her home all
of her life. The mitzvah of procreation for man cannot be realized
unless it is placed in the care of women through her immersion into
the mikvah. This mitzvah is absolutely essential to Jewish life and it
is her responsibility to protect it carefully and to guard it.
Obligation in this mitzvah is a prerequisite in fulfilling her purpose
as a wife and when understood thoroughly greatly enhances her love of
God. It would benefit all women to examine this commandment much more
carefully whether you are married or not yet married - it is the
foundation in preserving Jewish family life. It is woman alone who
engages her entire being into this commandment. There are no external
objects needed in this commandment - she is the ritual vessel - she is
completely immersed in the process of purity. God has endowed her
physically and intellectually with the means to perform this
commandment that can have a deep and profound effect in connection to
her devotion and love of God.
-
- In the Shemonah Esri we recite the blessing for Insight and we ask
the Creator to provides us with wisdom, insight and discernment. Men
and women, ask God that these attributes be given to us. We need them
in order to fulfill our purpose, to have greater awareness and
understanding of our lives and to set up our lives according to its'
true purpose. Knowledge itself is a reward, a gift and it is an
investment in the self, the soul that is part of one's involvement in
one's perfection. This investment in the self is what keeps a person
strong and brings peace of mind. Love of God is an obligation we all
have. All the popular novels people "just can't wait" to
read are really very empty and hollow compared to the ideas contained
in Torah. When we "just can't wait" to read these novels do
we make any investment in the self or in our purpose - are we
receiving any reward and do our minds really feel fulfilled and are we
genuinely happy? No, there is no investment or reward, the fulfillment
is momentary and happiness is an impossibility. Precious time is lost
and our minds are filled with waste! It is so much more mentally
exhilarating when we "just can't wait" to learn ideas. The
quality of the happiness that results is genuinely satisfying - it is
real happiness.
-
- God commanded Jewish men to be the transmitters of the Torah. Torah
is our greatest and most precious gift ever given and is absolutely
essential for having love of God. Every Jewish man needs to take their
obligation much more seriously and make it a priority in life if they
haven't. Women are also transmitters of Torah, that begins in their
home but women are not obligated in time bound commandments that men
are bound by. Nevertheless, men and women need to make Torah the
center of their existence and encourage each other to understand and
uncover the truths of Torah. As we each align ourselves with truth,
which is true reality that brings all of us onto the path of God- the
path, the way, the derech that He provided for us.
-
- "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace,
loving the created beings, and bringing them near to the Torah."
Pirkei Avos 1:12
|