In today's message:
Must Prayer Be Internalized?
Are you in?
Are you “in”? Well, that depends – it depends on what “in” really means. Indeed, the Talmud debates that very question. But it is more than a matter of semantics; it reflects an important teaching gleaned from this week’s portion (
Ki Tavo).
As the Jewish Nation is about to enter Eretz Yisrael, Ki Tavo begins “And it will be, when you come into the land which the Lord, your G-d, gives you for an inheritance, and you possess it and settle in it…” (Deuteronomy 26:1).
And so the question arises, at what stage did Am Yisrael “come into the land”?
When is in “in”?
Your Amazon package is delivered by someone who stands in the doorway but extends only his arms. Is he “in”? Parents warn their children not to come into the house with muddy shoes. Where exactly is “in”?
The Talmud debates this question and comes to the conclusion that “an entry by only part of the person is no entry” (Chulin 33b).
“In” is “in” when it’s “in”
Based on the above, Am Yisrael was considered to be in Eretz Yisrael only when they were fully “in”. And this Torah message has profound implications.
When we interact with our family, are we “fully in” - do we pay enough attention? When we undertake any kind of project, whether at work, home, or in the classroom, are we “fully in”, or just enough to get by?
And when it comes to serving G-d, are we only partially “in”, or are we “in” totally and wholeheartedly?
When “in” is totally “in”
Chassidut teaches that being “fully in” is not only quantitative (how much are we “in”), but is ultimately qualitative (in what manner are we “in”).
G-d invested our souls in our bodies to be “fully in”, so that the soul and body became united as one, and the body thus became “fully alive”. In other words, G-d's commitment and faith in us is total. And because it’s “all in”, it’s a real “love affair”.
And now it’s our turn. Let us reciprocate G-d's love. By adhering to His will, keeping His mitzvot, holding on to and cherishing our rich heritage, and by being strong in our obligation.
With only two weeks before we reaffirm our commitment to G-d on Rosh Hashanah, let us likewise make our commitment to G-d a total commitment. And in that way not only be “fully in”, but “fully alive”.
And especially this year, by doing so, we reaffirm that Am Yisrael chai!!!
With heartfelt prayers for Am Yisrael and Israel, and Shabbat Shalom.
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Did you know that...
This Monday, August 31, the 18th of Elul in the Hebrew calendar, marks the anniversary of the birth of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, in 1698, and, 47 years later, of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe), founder of Chabad.
18 also means “chai”, or “life”. Both the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe breathed new “life” into Judaism with their teachings and outreach.
For more about “Chai (18) Elul”,
click here.
Rabbi Eliezer Reinhold
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