Reflecting
on today’s day of service, I remind myself of a quote of Sylvia Boorstein’s,
“Clearly the path of mitzvot is a path of meditation.” Seeing how far that this
congregation changed in the world in just one day, I find extreme truth in this
statement. By helping others, we improve not only their world but also our own.
As Boorstein indicates, mitzvot provide the foundation for outer as well as
inner peace. Today, I planted flowers in the B’nai Shalom gardens. People, some
in our community and others visiting the temple, will view these flowers’
beauty. Perhaps, their sweet smell or brilliant color will provide cheer not
felt by the individual on that particular day. Others prepared packages for
several local organizations, accompanied the far too often ignored residents of
Whitney Place, or took part in home construction for those who still wander
without a place to call a home. God made the world imperfect during creation.
Kabbalah indicates that when God tried to fill the world with God’s perfection,
such substances combusted, unable to contain such holiness. Each and every act
of love and kindness brings the Jewish people closer to meditation and the
perfection God holds. Though never fully achievable, holiness is one’s
relationship with God or that perfection in the world. To grow holier is to
seem more perfect, more synchronized with what God tried to create. Often in
the Western World, however, people congratulate themselves for a good deed. How
often do we, say, serve food to the hungry and admire ourselves for being a
decent person? Mitzvot, of course, are about the action and the reward it
provides the citizen, not ourselves. The “mitzvah doer’s high” is a bonus to
one’s enriching of the world, but the tranquility Boorstein describes refers to
something greater than self-congratulation.
Mitzvot
(God’s commandments) offer redemption for the individual that extends beyond
qualifying oneself merely as a decent person. Holiness is upholding the three
things the world stands upon and thereby establishing a closer relationship
with God. The Torah and study of it establishes our foundation; in reading
Genesis to Deuteronomy, one learns how to self-actualize and sift through the
613 mitzvot necessary for such fulfillment. Each commandment, be it as ancient
as sacrifice or as relevant as forbidding murder, offers not an actual task but
a value. For these examples, the values are discipline and the preciousness of
life respectively. Once we know how to fulfill our potential, we turn to Avodah
for the empowerment to achieve this personal mission. Prayers actually solve nothing. Really, in saying Mi
Shebeirach over a sick loved one does not suddenly “inspire God” to heal them
of their illness. In the freedoms of this universe, God chooses not to
interfere in the lives of human beings in such a manner. Rather, prayer enables
us to hope and share our sorrows in a constructive manner. Mi Shebeirach causes
us to truly believe that the efforts we make on the Earth will eradicate
disease and cure our loved ones. Just as Torah reveals to us a personal mission, worship indicates the belief and the path to reach these dividends. Then,
we come to Mitzvah Day, not today but really every day. After knowledge and
belief, action follows. Our personal mission allows us to perform service with
a close yet selfless school of thought. Instead of pride in our own goodness,
this type of service allows for fulfillment that sustains us. The knowledge
that our efforts in Habitat for Humanity saved a homeless family from another cold
winter or that our work in beautifying the temple today creates a better world
for the people we know or do not know who will be affected by our efforts lift
the world and brings not pride in ourselves, merely wholeness and holiness.
The community of
Congregation B’nai Shalom met at 9 am this morning with the intent of improving
the world. People from all over the Metrowest united as Jews to really make a difference. Today, we call
it Mitzvah Day. Tomorrow is Monday, but that Monday can be just as special as
today. Do we need to build a house tomorrow to reach that same specialness? No.
The benefit of following 613 mitzvot and having so many Jewish teachers, thinkers, and writers, is that our already
known values as Jews guide us how to reach this redemption every day. Tragedy
and cynicism deter even the best of us, but as a community, religious people, and
world, we can find worldly redemption in conjunction with meditation.
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