Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Bechukotai
We read in the beginning of Parshat Bechukotai :
אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם׃
“If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments” (Vayikra 26,1) Then –
וְנָתַתִּ֥י מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תִגְעַ֥ל נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם׃ –
“I will dwell in your midst, and I will not reject you”. Vayikra 26,11).
The simple question is, why would G’d have to say that if we do behave according to the laws of the Torah and keep all Mitzvot he will “not spurn us”. Isn’t it obvious that if we keep everything – Hashem will look at us positively and not “reject” us ?
The Ramban asks the question and answers with a Kabalistc approach, saying, this is one of the mystical verses in the Torah.
Perhaps, Let me start with a parable: Young man meets a young lady for a Shidduch a few times. They have light talk, serious talk, and basically try to learn to know each other. they feel it’s a match – they like each other, and at one stage feel it’s time to get engaged to each other. “Mazal Tov”.
The next somewhat “critical” stage comes when the couple gets married and actually move in to live together under one roof. Now they will see not only the good and glorious features of each other – but also the (quite normal) weak sides of the other partner… Now comes a little moment of truth. Will the bond remain as strong, or will it be weakened by the real life shortcomings which come to light during the day to day life together.
Here – G’d is assuring us that if we generally keep to the ideas and Mitzvot, even as G’d will “dwell in our midst” – he will not “lose interest” by being so close together, and yes, seeing our human weaknesses as they are in real life. It is an amazing assurance. G’d tells us that our general behaviour is the criteria for closeness to Hashem, even as we, as human beings, may sometimes (not too often…) fall short of the targets we have.
Best wishes, Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh (Nissan) tov!
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld