“והיה עקב תשמעון את המשפטים האלה ושמרתם ועשיתם אתם” – “And it shall be the heel when you hearken to these ordinances, and you observe and perform them.” Rashi says that the “heel” refers to those Mitzvos which are considered “minor” Mitzvos. They are Mitzvos which people generally “trample with their heels,” because they don’t consider them important.
The Midrash compares the Mitzvos to pieces of a candelabra being put together on Shabbos, for when even the smallest piece is added to the candelabra, one is liable for the Melachah of building, since that little piece enhances the candelabra and makes it complete.
Similarly, each and every Mitzvah, even that which may be considered to be a very “small” Mitzvah, strengthens and perfects one’s Guf and Neshama. Each one is very important, and should not be trampled upon.
Chazal tell us that there is a total of 248 Mitzvos Aseh, which correspond to the 248 limbs every person has, and there are 365 Mitzvos Lo Saseh which correspond to the 365 sinews each person has. Each Mitzvah corresponds to a specific part of the person, and one needs every Mitzvah to give sustenance to each part of the body and to keep it healthy.
Taking this to the next level, not only is each Mitzvah important to the individual Yid, but it is also important on a national level. Klal Yisroel is composed of many different generations, each with its own nature and challenges. The accomplishments of all the generations combined will be one great historic accomplishment. The world was created for Klal Yisroel, as Chazal say, בראשית בשביל ישראל and the world was created for the Torah to be learned and its commandments followed. Evil in the world tries to stop it. Every time Klal Yisroel perform a Mitzvah, they are moving the world a little bit away from evil, so that the world can be closer to where it should be.
Every part of the world is to be connected directly to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. The more Mitzvos performed, the closer one brings the world to the state of perfection, of the world being in sync with the Kedusha of the world. The candelabra needs every single piece to be complete, thus we compare Mitzvos to the candelabra. During the six days of the week, we are constantly seeking to build the Menorah – to perform Mitzvos so that we can keep evil away. However, on Shabbos Kodesh, there is no need for us to work on keeping evil away, for as the Zohar Hakodosh tells us, evil is banished on the holy day of Shabbos.
The Kedusha of Shabbos radiates throughout the world, and thus the evil cannot tolerate it, and is pushed away. During the week, good and bad are intermingled, and thus there is always a danger of the evil and bad overtaking the person. Food can bring forth Kedusha, but also has evil in it. But on Shabbos, when the good is pure, and not mixed with evil, one can indulge in physical delights without the potential negative consequences. We look forward to the reward for our Mitzvos in the עקב, the heel – at the end of time before the coming of Mashiach – in our times. This is the era in which the Mitzvos we fulfill are the final touches on the almost completed Menorah – which will usher in the Geulah – the times of Moshiach, במהרה בימינו אמן.
(שפת אמת)
