Homeland Security has made their slogan: ‘See Something, Say Something’, often referred to as the equivalent of ‘Just Do It’.
The world is catching up. The Baal Shem Tov – that everything a person sees or hears is an opportunity to learn a lesson in the service of Hashem.
When Moses encounters the burning bush (Exodus 3) the Torah emphasizes that only after Moshe approached to investigate Hashem called out to him. Others may have passed by, oblivious to its paradox, maybe others may even have dismissed it as a curiosity and moved on.
But Moshe noticed, and because he noticed, Hashem entrusted him with the mission he was given.
There are burning bushes all around us – signals from Hashem, we must be attentive, notice these events and then act upon them. Sometimes an enslaved nation’s freedom might depend on it.
Then there is the commercial message – “just do it” – it has become a mantra for sports apparel, no surprise because it resonates with action. Ethics of our Fathers (chapter 1) – “it is not the discussion that is primary, it’s the deed.” The Rebbe’s mitzvah campaigns highlight this motto – you don’t have to understand the depth of this mitzvah, unsure of what is required, we’ll discuss that later, for right now “just do it”, do the mitzvah.”
In the laws of teshuva (repentance) Maimonides instructs us to constantly, view ourselves, our communities, in fact the whole world as being in perfect balance, the next mitzvah could tip the scales and bring rescue to the entirety of creation – the coming of Moshiach.
When you “see something learn something” and when a mitzvah option is in your path – whether you appreciate all its nuances or not, “just do it” – the world will benefit.
Society may be a slow learner, but they are getting there, and we are fortunate enough to be ahead of the curve, preparing for Moshiach.
By Rabbi Baruch Epstein
