In this week’s Parsha, Vaeschanan, we have a most beautiful mitzvah but it needs clarification. The Torah instructs us “You shall do what is appropriate and good in the eyes of HaShem.”
This seems to be a very general mitzvah that can be applied in every situation which Man finds himself. Namely, whatever you are doing, do it appropriately and good. The question; Why does the Torah qualify that it should be good in the eyes of HaShem. Is it not sufficient to simply state do what is appropriate and good, without any qualification? And if we assume that Man’s definition of appropriate and good is different than HaShem’s definition why doesn’t the Torah articulate exactly what is appropriate and good rather than leaving it open to what is good in HaShem’s eyes? Don’t we all think that what appears good to me is probably what HaShem considers good as well?
The answer to this question lies in recognizing the nature of what the Torah is for us. There are two basic perceptions of what the Torah means to us. The simplistic view is that the Torah is our book of laws by which we must live our lives and nothing more. This would mean that once a person observes all the mitzvos he is the perfect Jew. The sophisticated view of Torah yields a completely different perspective; The Torah, through her mitzvos direct Man and educate him in the ways of HaShem. Through his observance of the mitzvos and the study of the Torah Man becomes imbued with the sense of Torah, with the culture of Torah. He will see the world through the lens of the Torah and will understand how to apply Torah’s viewpoint in every aspect of his life.
Using the sophisticated approach let us study a few mitzvos and tease out a sense of Torah viewpoint.
Mitzvah; Do not hate your fellow Jew in your heart. The Torah instructs us that although we may be justified hating our fellow Jew given the circumstances, we must never hold that hatred in our heart. We must tell them how we feel. And we must do this in a way that protects their dignity.
Mitzvah; You may not take revenge. The Torah instructs us that if someone wronged us and later needs our help we must leave our animosity on the side and help them as graciously as we would help any other Jew.
Behold! These two mitzvos alone are so instructive on the Torah’s stance regarding our interpersonal relationships. We are entitled to hold negative feelings towards another Jew, if the circumstances justify it. (Which circumstances justify hatred is an entire discussion.) However, we may not let it build up inside of us, we must let it out in a respectable manner. At the same time we are not allowed to let this hatred change our interaction with this person. We must give him the same attention as we would anybody else. We are never justified to take action against him based on our hatred with the exception of taking him to court to resolve any injustice.
So when the Torah tells us “You shall do what is appropriate and good in the eyes of HaShem” she is teaching us that we should study her well and learn from her what is appropriate and good in the eyes of HaShem and apply those lessons in everything we do. When we successfully accomplish this mitzvah it is no wonder why HaShem tells Yishayahu (Isaiah 49:3) “It is through you, Nation of Israel that I am glorified”.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind