Parshas Shlach
GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch
"G-d said to Moshe saying, 'Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them
that they shall make themselves tzitzis on the corners of their garments
throughout their generations.'" (Bamidbar/Numbers 15:37-38) Two features
distinguish the mitzvah of tzitzis from most of the mitzvos (Divine
commandments) in the Torah. Most mitzvos mandate that we unconditionally
perform an act - eat matza at the Seder, wave a lulav on Succos, listen to
the shofar blasts on Rosh Hashana - or unconditionally refrain from certain
acts - do not eat on Yom Kippur, do not speak slanderously of others, do not
steal. This contrasts the tzitzis strings that are only put on the corners
of a four (or more) cornered garment. No corners, no tzitzis. With today's
wardrobe of shirts and slacks we have no Torah obligation of tzitzis
(although there is a Rabbinic imperative to wear a four cornered garment so
that we can accept upon ourselves the Torah's mandate). Second, when G-d
gave Moshe most of the mitzvos, the Torah relates, "G-d spoke to Moshe
saying". Speaking is firmer and more direct than saying.
Why is this mitzvah only said, not spoken? And why is the Torah commandment
conditional? Especially considering the rationale the Torah itself gives for
the mitzvah of tzitzis: "That you may see it and remember all the
commandments of G-d and perform them; and not explore after your heart and
after your eyes after which you stray. So that you may remember and perform
all My commandments and be holy to your G-d." (15:39-40) This is not just
"another" mitzvah; this is the key to them all. Proper fulfillment of
tzitzis helps develop the mindset such that all the other mitzvos fall into
place. How can THIS mitzvah not be mandatory?
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986; Rosh Yeshiva/Dean of Mesivtha Tifereth
Jerusalem in New York City; the leading Halachic/Jewish legal decisor and of
his time and one of the principal leaders of Torah Jewry through much of the
last century) explains that in the choice to fulfill this mitzvah rests the
"magic" of the mitzvah. The power of this mitzvah to remind us and encourage
us to do the other mitzvos is borne in the G-d consciousness, the fostering
of love toward and a loving relationship with G-d, which emanates from
tzitzis. Only the gentle encouragement of "saying" will lead to choice,
which leads to love, which leads to contemplation, which leads to the
understanding that more mitzvah opportunities will further fortify the
relationship, thus reminding and encouraging us to remain focused on the
relationship, not to become distracted by the illusory fulfillment of
temporal pleasures.
In these weeks between Pesach and Rosh Hashana Jews traditionally study one
chapter of Pirkei Avos/The Ethics of our Fathers per week. Each chapter
ends: Rabbi Chanina ben Akashia says, "The Holy One, Blessed is He, wished
to confer merit upon Israel; therefore he gave them Torah and mitzvos in
abundance..." G-d wants us to build the relationship. That is why He gave us
so many mitzvah opportunities; that is why He supports us with gentle
encouragement.
Have a good Shabbos!
Copyright © 2002 by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch and Project Genesis, Inc.
Kol HaKollel is a publication of the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish
Studies 5007 West Keefe Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 414-447-7999
