Dvar Torah for Parshat Eikev

Based on Avanehah Barzel—Stories about Reb Noson #12

"This is what what will happen if you listen well to My mitzvot..." (Deuteronomy 11:13).

I was talking to a friend the other day and he said to me, "I cannot express to you what the mitzvah of tefillin means to me." That got to me thinking...

One of the words to which the word "mitzvah" is related is "bind." A mitzvah is not only a command, but an expression of Hashem's desire to be bound to us. Do I take advantage of those opportunities to show and share my love for Him? I do mitzvot all the time, but all too often, thoughtlessly or carelessly. There ought to be a better way.

Of course, studying about a mitzvah, mulling over its details and relating it to who I am and where I've been, would be a good start. I remembered that in the story The Seven Beggars—The Second Day (Rabbi Nachman's Stories, p.381) the Deaf Beggar tells the newlyweds (and the others assembled) that the sense of taste is spoiled by speaking obscenities. By keeping my own mouth clean, and by keeping a healthy distance from those who don't, my sense of taste would be restored (ibid., p. 352). It would definitely improve my "taste" and appreciation for mitzvot as well.

Then I recalled this story:

Once, Reb Nachman Tulchiner [one of Reb Noson's closest disciples] worked long and hard in building Reb Noson's sukkah. When they were eating the holiday meal Reb Nachman Tulchiner commented, "If one works hard all day on building the sukkah, one gets a different taste from the sukkah."

Reb Noson replied, "Yes, but you still haven't tasted this. Cry out all day, 'Master of the Universe! Give me a taste of the mitzvah of sukkah!!' Then you'll really know what sukkah tastes like!"

So, pick a mitzvah and start praying: "Master of the Universe! Give me a taste...." And after you've prayed for that one a while, choose another one.

Agutn Shalom!
Shabbat Shalom!