בס''ד
A
metaphor is a powerful tool used in all forms of literature and communication
to express descriptions that may otherwise allude us. Within the Torah, however, if one thing is portrayed
as being akin to something else, the comparison is beyond the superficial, but rather
reveals essential characteristics of that which it is compared to. Rashi on the words “these are the offspring
of Noach”, makes the comment that the main offspring of the righteous are their
good deeds. If it is as we have stated,
then there must be far more to this association than a mere figure of
speech. In which case we must determine how
exactly one’s mitzvos are fundamentally like one’s children.
The
relationship that a parent shares with a child is entirely unique on any number
of levels. The love that a mother or
father has for their child is something that transcends any obstacles or
impediments to its existence. No matter
what a child does and no matter how much they may disappoint those who raised
them, this deep sense of love remains intact, well beyond when it would have dissipated
if challenged in this manner with any other relationship. To relate this to mitzvos, Reb Moshe
Feinstein zt’l informs us that this should also be our attitude towards them. There will be times when our performance of
mitzvos will not be to the standard that we would like or they may not be of as
great consequence as we would like. The
truth is that every mitzvah is of infinite value, no matter to what degree of
perfection it is done and no matter how insignificant it might seem. Just as we never lose that love for our
children, irrespective of their choices, so too we must always cherish every
good deed that we do, irrespective of its impact and perceived worth.
One
of the greatest challenges we face is the challenge to truly appreciate
ourselves. We may look around and see
others who have achieved great things and garnered praise and admiration, and consequently look upon our
own accomplishments as feeble in comparison.
This is a grave error in both its accuracy and in the effect that such
thinking will create. The truth is that
each of us are given a role to accomplish and our task is not to look for the
most prestigious acts to fulfil, but to take each moment and ask what it is we
should be doing now. Every time we
choose to act according to the will of Hashem, we are realising the wishes of
the Creator. We must cherish each one of
these choices and appreciate just how great they truly are.
*May each moment of Shabbos
bring us appreciation of its true worth*
לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם
לעילוי
נשמת שרה יעל בת ברכה אסתר
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please let me know if you enjoyed this week's Musings or if you have any other comments that you would like to make about the ideas discussed. I would love to hear from you.