Parshas Ki Seitze - The Trainer
By: Rabbi Paysach Diskind
Of the 613 mitzvos that HaShem gave us, 74 of them are in this week’s Parsha of Ki Seitzei. I would therefore like to discuss a simple question - Why did HaShem give us so many mitzvos? Actually, if we are going to ask this question we must ask a more basic question - what is the purpose of the mitzvos? The Giver of these mitzvos certainly can have no need for them because He is G.D, what could He possibly be missing?
The Mishna addresses this question as follows. “HaShem wanted to purify the people of Israel, He therefore gave them Torah and MItzvos.” So here we have it. The purpose of the mitzvos is to purify us. The implication of this Mishna is that we are not perfectly pure but through the observance of the mitzvos we become more purified.
There is no such creature that is truly perfect. Every mortal being is going to be deficient, we all have our shortcomings.. Even the greatest people had their flaws. Is there anyone greater than Moshe, the one whom HaShem entrusted the giving of the Torah? And the Torah tells us of Moshe’s shortcomings. To that end HaShem gave us mitzvos to perfect us, to help us become more perfect. The question is how do mitzvos perfect us? There is another question we must ask. If every mortal being is going to be imperfect, no matter what he does, what is purpose of becoming more perfect if we will never achieve our goal of being perfectly perfect.
The answer to the second question is that there is no goal to become perfectly perfect. Rather, Man’s goal is to become always trying to be closer to perfect. In other words, it is the dynamic state of becoming perfect that we look to accomplish not the static state of being perfect. This means that he must always be working to come closer to perfection and if he lives such a life he achieved his goal - he is an accomplished Jew.
How do the mitzvos assist us in achieving this lofty goal? To appreciate the value of a mitzvah I would suggest you view mitzvos as workout exercises and protocols. Let us take the fellow who decides that he wants to keep himself in shape. He hires a personal trainer who reveiws with him his daily schedule and instructs him to make certain changes in his eating habits, in the types of food he eats, in his sleeping schedule and so on. He will also give a list of exercises to do on a daily basis as well specific methods of lifting heavy objects and so on.
HaShem knows better than anyone what our shortcomings are and from where they come. He knows which muscles need to be trained in order to bring us closer to perfection. He is the ultimate trainer. He knows how to train us in being more patient, He knows how to train us to be more selfless, He knows how to train us in being more generous. He knows which foods and drinks are detrimental to our perfection program. He knows what activities will encourage us in our desire to achieve this dynamic state.
We are drawing close to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These are days on which our Trainer reviews our fitness program and decides what challenges we need for the coming year. Every mitzvah works, so go for the easy ones and from there the harder ones will come into reach. So grab a few and enjoy the journey.
Rabbi Paysach Diskin, Director of ACHIM
Of the 613 mitzvos that HaShem gave us, 74 of them are in this week’s Parsha of Ki Seitzei. I would therefore like to discuss a simple question - Why did HaShem give us so many mitzvos? Actually, if we are going to ask this question we must ask a more basic question - what is the purpose of the mitzvos? The Giver of these mitzvos certainly can have no need for them because He is G.D, what could He possibly be missing?
The Mishna addresses this question as follows. “HaShem wanted to purify the people of Israel, He therefore gave them Torah and MItzvos.” So here we have it. The purpose of the mitzvos is to purify us. The implication of this Mishna is that we are not perfectly pure but through the observance of the mitzvos we become more purified.
There is no such creature that is truly perfect. Every mortal being is going to be deficient, we all have our shortcomings.. Even the greatest people had their flaws. Is there anyone greater than Moshe, the one whom HaShem entrusted the giving of the Torah? And the Torah tells us of Moshe’s shortcomings. To that end HaShem gave us mitzvos to perfect us, to help us become more perfect. The question is how do mitzvos perfect us? There is another question we must ask. If every mortal being is going to be imperfect, no matter what he does, what is purpose of becoming more perfect if we will never achieve our goal of being perfectly perfect.
The answer to the second question is that there is no goal to become perfectly perfect. Rather, Man’s goal is to become always trying to be closer to perfect. In other words, it is the dynamic state of becoming perfect that we look to accomplish not the static state of being perfect. This means that he must always be working to come closer to perfection and if he lives such a life he achieved his goal - he is an accomplished Jew.
How do the mitzvos assist us in achieving this lofty goal? To appreciate the value of a mitzvah I would suggest you view mitzvos as workout exercises and protocols. Let us take the fellow who decides that he wants to keep himself in shape. He hires a personal trainer who reveiws with him his daily schedule and instructs him to make certain changes in his eating habits, in the types of food he eats, in his sleeping schedule and so on. He will also give a list of exercises to do on a daily basis as well specific methods of lifting heavy objects and so on.
HaShem knows better than anyone what our shortcomings are and from where they come. He knows which muscles need to be trained in order to bring us closer to perfection. He is the ultimate trainer. He knows how to train us in being more patient, He knows how to train us to be more selfless, He knows how to train us in being more generous. He knows which foods and drinks are detrimental to our perfection program. He knows what activities will encourage us in our desire to achieve this dynamic state.
We are drawing close to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These are days on which our Trainer reviews our fitness program and decides what challenges we need for the coming year. Every mitzvah works, so go for the easy ones and from there the harder ones will come into reach. So grab a few and enjoy the journey.
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 13, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Edith Levy, a’h, mother of Jesse (Ella) Levy and Judd Levy.
Upodatyed on Apr. 18 @ 4:53PM - Baltimore:Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, from 4:00PM-6:00PM (Mincha at 6:00PM) at 6501 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209 Jesse can be reached at 410-484-0053 or 301-704-0798.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
An Israeli missile strike targeted a site in Iran early Friday morning, according to ABC News. The report came shortly after local sources reported explosions in Isfahan in central Iran, in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria, and in the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate of Iraq early Friday morning.
Videos reportedly from Isfahan appeared to show Iranian air defenses activated in the skies over the area.
The Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency reported that an explosion was heard in Qahjavarestan, east of Isfahan and near the Isfahan International Airport. Fars stressed that the cause of the explosion was unknown as of yet.Reports of strikes on sites belonging to Syrian army
Syrian reports on Friday morning indicated airstrikes had also targeted sites belonging to...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 17, 2024 - Join the community in a new incentive to disconnect from digital life and reconnect with... life!
Commit to limit your screen time during Sefiras HaOmer, the special time of growth between Pesach and Shavuos, and win great prizes! See below for details.
To sponsor any part of this initiative, reach out to us at help@tagbaltimore.org or call 410-449-1824
More than 100 people were arrested by New York Police Department officers on a preliminary charge of criminal trespass, as police entered Columbia University on Thursday to disperse a pro-Palestinian Arab protest that began a day earlier, CNN reported.
The individuals were detained with no resistance, and the university is named as the complainant since the incident occurred on its property, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The arrests come one day after clashes erupted at competing rallies of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian Arab groups on Columbia’s campus.
Several people waving Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flags had verbal confrontations with police officers, who had begun boxing the protesters in with barricades, CNN affiliate WCBS&nb...
The US on Thursday vetoed a Security Council resolution to admit the Palestinian Authority as a full member state of the United Nations.
12 countries voted in favor of the resolution: Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China, and Algeria.
Two countries abstained – Britain and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said following the vote, “The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism.”
“I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council. It is outrageous th...
Washington, D.C. - Apr. 18, 2024 The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging and sold at Trader Joe’s stores in AL, CT, D.C., DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WI.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Seven of eight cases with information available reported exposure to fresh organic basil purchased from Trader Joe's before becoming ill. Additionally, traceback data collecte...
The secrets of the miracles which happened on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Tazria - 6th of Nissan 5784 when Iran shot 350 ballistic missiles on Eretz Yisroel and they were all intercepted, most on the way on top of Jordan. An in depth Torah vision of this specific day throughout history of the Tanach.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Barry Fader, z’l, brother of Pinchas Fader.
Pinchas is sitting shiva in Israel (Nahal Lachish 22/3 Ramat Beit Shemesh א) through Monday morning, Apr. 22 and can be reached at 058-631.3253 or (667) 309-1399.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Last year, Baltimore lost a giant, Rabbi Moshe Juravel zt”l. I had the zechus to write an article about him, which was warmly received. He inspired so many in various ways. In the article, I shared that before Pesach, Rabbi Juravel wanted to teach the boys about family minhagim and gave out a questionnaire for the boys to fill out. (Click on the graphics below for a larger, printable version.)My brother, who was in his class, brought this home and my father excitedly filled it out. Years later, my other brother used this as a springboard to write a kunteres for our family of its minhagim, all from a handout to a fifth-grader!
In the opening, he writes: "To the parents of my talmidim. Yiddishkeit has survived the galus intact because of our ability to transmit the mesorah of ou...
Rabbi Labish Becker - Pesach 5784 Part 4 -A Bird's Eye View- from Agudath Israel on Vimeo.
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 18, 2024 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 18 April 2024), visited Mossad headquarters where he met with Director David Barnea and – afterwards – with the forum of division heads. They discussed regional developments in the various sectors. The Prime Minister and the Mossad Director also referred to the continuing efforts – and the importance of doing everything possible – to return the hostages back home as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Netanyahu then visited the ISA headquarters where he held working meetings with ISA Director Ronen Bar and – afterwards – met with the senior management forum chaired by Director Bar, his deputy and additional senior officials.
The Prime Minister received a co...
Israel prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week, three Israeli sources told ABC News on Wednesday.
According to the report, a range of responses to the drone and missile attack have been presented to the Israeli War Cabinet. The potential responses include options ranging from attacking Iranian proxies in the region but not on Iranian soil to a potential cyber attack, the sources said.
Israel is unlikely to carry out a strike on Iran until after Passover, which begins at sundown on Monday, a senior US official told ABC News, although that could always change.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other leadership are still on a high state of alert, with some in safe houses and underground facilities, ...
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton, Florida, once remarked that Pesach is like Disney World for kids. Here is his important message regarding the coming days, which holds true even during these challenging times:Passover (Pesach) is the Holiday of Freedom. It’s our opportunity to communicate our values and the Story of Passover to the next generation. On Pesach, it’s important to keep in mind that we are supposed to eat Maror (bitter herbs) not become as bitter as Maror. In the days preceding Pesach and on Seder night itself, our guiding principles should be those of joy, enthusiasm, and meaning. Here are some examples: The Search for Chametz is a holy game of “hide and seek.” It is supposed to be fun and not a burden. The same applies to the Burning of Chamet...
Baltimore, Md - Apr. 18, 2024 - In many ways the main mitzvah of the Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus. Yes, we eat matzah, and yes, we drink wine, and yes to all the customs and rules and all of that. Yet, from a certain perspective, all of these moments are in service to our telling the story. We start with the bad times, we end with the good times. We have questions and answers, and we try to feel like we were really there during the times of slavery and were really there when we marched out, saved, proud, and so obviously beloved by the Creator.
From time to time, a student will ask me why it is that in olden times there were so many miracles and nowadays, we don’t have miracles like that. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have faith and keep the mitzvot ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Abraham Weinberger, z’l, brother of Mrs. Lori Pollak (443 844 1250).
Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, 2024, from 10:00AM - 4:00PM at 3909 W. Strathmore Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215
It’s All A Matter Of Perspective
Potatoes. A staple for Pesach in most homes. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Avraham Juravel - Rabbinic Coordinator at the OU, and the chief Rabbi of Idaho Falls, as he talks about potatoes and the kashrus related issues.
The daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar claimed that she has been suspended from Barnard College over her participation in anti-Israel activity.
Isra Hirsi posted on X today (Thursday), "I’m an organizer with CU Apartheid Divest @ColumbiaSJP, in my 3 years at @BarnardCollege I have never been reprimanded or received any disciplinary warnings. I just received notice that I am 1 of 3 students suspended for standing in solidarity with Palestinians facing a genocide."
"Those of us in Gaza Solidarity Encampment will not be intimidated. we will stand resolute until our demands are met. Our demands include divestment from companies complicit in genocide, transparency of @Columbia’s investments and FULL amnesty for all students facing repression," she added.
Hirsi's suspension...