This Shabbos we discussed the week’s parshah, Pekudei. In the parsha we bring the mishkan to Moshe who does some final work on it, before a cloud appears signifying the divine presence. We discussed how it could be that we were able to carry such a heavy mishkan. Even if we only carried the pieces, how was Moshe and ourselves able to construct the mishkan on our own. David relayed some of Efroni's comments, that Hashem helps us by performing miracles after we have persisted with our own hard work.
David led our learning and study of Rav Yeager’s book. We discussed 2 possible reasons why we perform mitzvahs. The first reason is that performing mitzvah helps us internalize and understand. For example, we put on tefillin in order to help us internalize and understand bringing Torah close to us, spiritually as well as physically. The second reason is that performing mitzvah may actually be necessary in order for the universe to exist and function. This is hard to imagine, as this includes mitzvah causing results that cannot be explained by physical laws. The universe may be designed so that the rewards for doing mitzvah may come automatically, without Hashem’s direct intervention, and without a physical explanation. For example, if we do certain mitzvah there may be more rain for our crops. This may be done with angels, or by some other mechanism that we do not fully understand.
We discussed how with many mitzvah, there is the general mitzvah and then the details. For example, we had the general mitzvah of building a tabernacle, and then all the details that were involved. General mitzvah, such as being kind, visiting the sick, etc. etc. seem to be associated more with the first reason for doing mitzvah, in order to internalize and understand a concept from Torah. For example, being kind and visiting the sick, help us understand Hashem’s relationship with us. Mitzvah’s that involve details, such as purity laws, seem to be associated more with the second reason for doing mitzvah; these are mitzvah that we do simply because the Torah directs us to do them, and we do not quite understand the benefits. Another example, the general mitzvah to keep kosher teaches us that we can control our physical impulses, whereas a detailed mitzvah such as not eating fish without scale and fins is a chokim, in which there is not a good reason that we understand. However performing mitzvah like this may be necessary for us to experience favorable events in our world.
We discussed that although the reason for details may not be understood, details are also important because they support the general mitzvah. If we start messing around with the details, or allowing ourselves to do whatever details we feel like doing, eventually the general mitzvah gets lost. It is similar to typing a url into a browser. If we are off by one character, we will get a browser error or end up at a different website. Likewise, computer programs will not compile if there is a single syntax error, or will cause an application to freeze in the case of interpreted code.
This Shabbos we discussed why it is that the universe was created with certain things hidden. Why isn’t the existence of Hashem made obvious to us? A similar question is why did Hashem create things so that the mitzvah and reward connection is always easily seen and understood. We discussed how this would take away free will to not have to choose to believe, but be forced to believe something. What would it be like to be a human being without free will? Without free will, we become simply a physical body, or an animal. Howard talked about what we would be like without a soul, and how we are a spirit in a physical body; the purpose of the physical body to enable us to perform mitzvah. Our free will is part of this spirit. If we automatically had certain beliefs without free will, we would be like a robot.
This Shabbos we continued our discussion of Purim, which will occur this month of Adar. We discussed a meaning of Purim that we reaccepted the Torah, and in this case did it when we had more of a choice. Back at the time of Mt. Sinai, in many ways, we had no choice but to accept the Torah with Hashem “hanging a mountain” over us, but at the time of Purim we made a choice with our free will to reaccept the Torah. We made a decision to include the book of Esther as part of the canonization of our written Torah. This book, being the last book, becomes a bridge between the written and oral Torah. We talked about the 4 mitzvah of Purim: giving to the poor, giving gifts to our friends, hearing the megilah, and being present for the Torah portions. We also discussed how with Purim, we can go lenient if we have a doubt about having performed the mitzvah.
Finally, I have some thoughts about my birthday which fell on a Shabbos. Howard talked this Shabbos about the importance of our body having a soul. We all grow older physically, including myself, but our body can always have a great soul that never ages.
This is a summary of what we discussed this past Shabbos. No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred
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