Parshas Shelach – Tzitzis
PARSHAS SHELACH – TZITZIS
I wanted to start by thanking all the people who were involved in arranging this past Wednesday’s “tzitzis tying” event; it was really inspiring to be a part of. Another thank you is due to the 30+ guys who showed up to make it happen. I enjoyed seeing you all, and I look forward to getting together again.
This week’s Parsha has within it the parsha of tzitzis that we read every day. The passuk says “u’risem oso uzchartem es kol mitzvos Hashem va’asisisem osam, v’lo sasuru acharei l’vavchem v’acharei eineichem – you shall see the tzitzis and recall all of my commandments, and you shall be motivated to perform them and as a result you will not follow the desires of your eyes and heart.” The simplest meaning of this passuk bares such a powerful message.
The Sforno explains that just as a master will place a sign on his servant to remind the servant of their obligation to serve the master, Hashem gives us a sign to remind us of our obligation to serve him, which came because we accepted upon ourselves to do his mitzvos. The Sforno says that this reminder will help focus us away from the whims of our heart and eyes to rather choose lives of nitzchius.
Wearing tzitzis is an amazing thing even if we don’t connect to its message. However, if its message is heeded, the greatness of the mitzvah will be multiplied way more than we can ever imagine and would generate an unbelievably more powerful protection that we desperately need. We and our brothers around the world should be zoche to experience the benefits of this simple and easy, yet transformative mitzvah!
Point to ponder: What is hard to understand about what the Sforno is saying is why because my great great great grandparents accepted to be servants does that make me a servant; I personally didn’t accept anything?! Please share your answers with me.
HAVE A WONDERFUL SHABBOS!
Rabbi Anton
Download the PDF -> Shelach