It is possible for a person to be an expert in Torah law without practicing any of it.
For example, this could be an academic who has studied the Torah and has produced a thesis as a historic document as opposed to being a guide for life. Or perhaps, you might have somebody who has been schooled in the ways of the Torah, who has grown up within a Torah environment but doesn’t any longer want to translate their knowledge into action.
It is with this in mind that in the third paragraph of the Shema, which is presented to us in this week’s Parshah, Hashem tells us, “וזכרתם את כל מצות יהוה ועשיתם אתם.” – “And you shall remember all the mitzvot of Hashem and you must perform them.”
What we remember needs to be translated into action.
And then the Shema continues to reinforce this message, “למען תזכרו ועשיתם את כל מצותי,” – “so that you will remember and translate that memory into the performance of My commandments,” “והייתם קדשים לאלהיכם.” – “So that you shall become holy before Hashem.
If you indeed lead a life which is filled with the performance of the Mitzvot, you will have a sacred existence, ‘והייתם קדשים’ – you’ll have meaning in life, you’ll have joy in life, you’ll have a deep sense of fulfilment, you will have a spiritual existence.
In Parshat Shelach Lecha, we are told of the saga of the spies. They ignored the word of Hashem who had promised them that they were going to a glorious, blessed land. They wanted to decide for themselves. They wanted to reach conclusions in life without regard to what they knew to be the word of Hashem – and the result was a great tragedy for our people.
So the Shema, at the end of the Parsha, comes to tell us that when we are aware of the expectations of Hashem and we choose to translate them into meaningful practice, the result will be that we’ll be all the better for them. Our lives will be enhanced and we will be enormously blessed. Everything that we know, is there to be translated into action, to give us lives of incredible spirituality, wonderful meaning and true happiness.
Let us, therefore, enhance our lives by praying with all our hearts, for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, police officers, medical professionals, firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, sweet, and happy Shabbat.
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 3
MITZVOT ASEH: 2
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 1
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 119
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1540
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 5820
HAFTORA: Yehoshua 2:1 – 24
Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Tammuz.
Rosh Chodesh – Thursday and Friday, June 26 & 27, 2025.
This week we study Chapter 3 of Pirkei Avot
