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“Guard and listen to all these things... so it shall be good for you and your children, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Hashem, your G-d.” (Devarim 12:28)
This posuk is similar to two pesukim earlier (6:17-18), where we were exhorted to guard the mitzvos and do that which is right and good in Hashem’s eyes so that we merit the land Hashem promised us.
There are some subtle differences between the two, and some similarities. There, for example, Rashi says the Torah is speaking about compromising and making peace rather than strict judgments according to the letter of the law, which he does not say here. In both cases, there is an aspect of guarding the Torah and Mitzvos, teaching us that this is the source of our ultimate happiness in life, in this world and the next.
Here, Rashi says that the “good” you do, refers to how your acts are viewed in the eyes of Hashem, while the “right” that you do, is in the eyes of people. The Bechor Shor, on the other hand, switches them and says that one can only do good (i.e. favors) for people, but for Hashem he does what is right and proper.
Regardless of which one you say refers to Hashem’s view versus Man’s view, both of them are ultimately, “In the eyes of Hashem, your G-d.” What does it mean to be doing what Man appreciates, if it still has to align with what Hashem wants? What is Man’s view is in opposition to Hashem’s view?
The truth is that the posuk exhorts us to do what is good in the eyes of people, only when it complements what Hashem wants. As the Ramban explains there in Vaeschanan, Hashem gave some examples of how to treat our fellow man, but leaves it to us to extrapolate more ways to act, perhaps beyond the letter of the law, which take into account treating our fellow man as Hashem would want us to. These ways are also called, “in the eyes of Man,” because Hashem didn’t dictate them specifically, but to people it seems like the right thing to do.
That said, before we do what people believe is right, we must have a solid basis of Torah within us. As Rashi says, “The Mishna which you must guard in your belly so you don’t forget it.” We must review and internalize Torah constantly, just as we must eat constantly to remain full. Only after that will we be able to do what is right in the eyes of Mankind and still right in Hashem’s. Who knows? Maybe that’s where the idea of a gut instinct comes from, from being so full of Torah that you know what the right thing to do is, even if Hashem didn’t spell it out.
A father and son were traveling on their way, riding on a donkey. People saw them and commented how cruel they were to make the donkey carry the double load of two passengers. Hearing this, the son jumped off and the people said, "Look at that mean father who rides while his son walks." The father then went down and the son went up to ride. "Look at that disrespectful son who rides like a king while his poor father walks beside him on foot." No matter what they did, people found fault.
With no other choice, the son climbed down and they both walked alongside the donkey. "Look at those idiots," the people said. "They have a donkey, and walk beside it instead of riding." But they couldn't ride because everything they tried was met with criticism. So what did they do? They lifted the donkey and let it ride on their shoulders! (I’m sure some misguided people thought they’d finally gotten it right!)
The moral of the story is: do what is right and don't bother trying to please everyone.
©2024 – J. Gewirtz
