I'm so tired of the politicians in this country.
Even though we have new elections in a few months, it's all the same. Nothing ever changes … well … with the exception of Naftali Bennet. Sometimes he's religious, sometimes he's not. Sometimes right-wing, sometimes left. Other than that, we have the same jokers over and over again.
Last elections I didn't want to vote at all. I called my rav to speak to him about it and he agreed with everything that I said, but, in the end he said, "Listen, there are very important things for the entire Jewish people that come up there, like kashrus, who is a Jew, marriage, divorce issues, etc., and we need to know that there will be people who, on those issues, no matter what, will stand up."
So, this year, I'm doing something different. One of the major Ultra-Orthodox parties is called Degel HaTorah (the banner of Torah). They haven't exactly gained the trust of many over the past decade or so, always remaining with the same numbers, despite a growing population. Therefore, I'm starting a party to replace Degel HaTorah; it will be called Begel V'Torah. If you vote for me, you will not only get reward in this world, but also the next. And what, prey tell, is my party promising? That's all very easy to answer:
1. The entire Knesset? Up against the wall.
2. The entire Supreme Court? Up against the wall.
3. Every general in the IDF? Up against the wall. They will be replaced by those from the Hesder Yeshivas system (National Religious).
4. Every member of my local city hall? Up against the wall.
5. Every Russian woman who goes around town, every single day, putting out cat food every single meter? … Up against the wall…. Twice.
As you see, my plan is simple and straight forward. Government employment will dwindle, military competency will grow, taxes will fall, and there will be a lot of jobs to be filled.
Okay, where were we?
"And each man's holy things shall be his; whatever each man gives to the Kohen shall be his [the Kohen's]" (Bamidbar 5:10).
It is the nature of man that when he does something positive, he wants the world to know about it. And when he does the opposite, he wants to keep it under the rug.
Mitzvos are no different. And our nature, even regarding mitzvos, are no different.
On Sukkos, for example, when we get an esrog … we get AN ESROG! Each man puts in a little extra money to get something that looks beautiful and nice. After all, he wants to beautify the mitzvah.
Now, let's pretend that the mitzvah of esrog could only be done within your own home, in your own room, all alone. And let's just say, halacha forbid even showing the esrog to others.
Would we, in general, be putting in so much money for this mitzvah?
Nu? Be honest. 😊
Nothing to feel bad about. Again, it's human nature. There is always a part of us that makes us do things because we want the approval or praise from others. At minimum, we want to be just like others.
While the pasuk is clearly speaking about fruits and which fruits he must give to the Kohen and which fruits he gets to keep (even if they are being called "holy"); Rav Yisroel Shapria suggests that we can learn a good lesson from a small change in how we read the above pasuk. "And each man's holy things shall be HIS (the person)." He does the mitzvos not for OTHERS, but for his OWN good.
When we are in front of others, we should remember that the mitzvos that we are currently doing are there to serve our own spiritual good, and not to impress others. And when we are alone, when we are more likely to be more lax, we should remember that the mitzvos that we are currently doing, are there to serve our own spiritual good.
Hopefully, in the first case, we will focus less on others and more on Hashem, and in the second case, we will focus less on "let's get this out of the way" and more on Hashem.
With that, I wish you an amazing Shabbos!