When you follow the directions, you never have to second-guess yourself.
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“You shall guard and do them [the mitzvos] for it is your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations for they will hear all these statutes and they will say, surely this great nation is one of wisdom and understanding.” (Devarim 4:6)
Continuing his adjuration of the Jewish People before his death, Moshe warns the Jews to keep to the Torah as it was given to him by Hashem. We should not change it nor try to “improve” it, because it is perfect the way it was given.
The Torah is immutable and timeless; this is a foundation of Jewish belief. No one who understands these verses would try to change its laws even a bit. The laws of the world are man-made, but the Torah’s laws come from Hashem. By keeping these laws, two things happen, say a number of the commentaries. One, the nations of the world will come to honor and respect us. Two, we will gain closeness to Hashem.
Why, though are we concerned with what the nations of the world think of us? Do we keep the mitzvos for external motives? Shouldn’t we focus on serving Hashem?
Perhaps there is a greater understanding for us here, if we ponder what the Torah is saying. It says the nations will be impressed by our keeping of the statutes. This word usually connotes laws without a reason, which we do solely because Hashem commanded them. If they are without reason, why would the nations be impressed?
The answer is that every nation has laws that make sense. The laws are created by people and must have an understandable rationale. However, we, the Jewish People, have laws that make sense and laws that are seemingly beyond our understanding. When the nations see us keeping the chukim, the statutes, they understand that they come from Hashem. Not only that, but even the mitzvos which have reasons are revered more, because they come from Hashem whose understanding cannot be fathomed by humankind.
This creates a Kiddush Hashem, that Hashem has loyal subjects who trust in Him regardless of whether they understand why He commands something. It also creates honor and respect to us, because we have the ability to overcome our human egos and acknowledge there is a higher power and understanding. Being principled enough to do what we don’t understand because it comes from Hashem is something the nations of the world will be impressed by.
If we want the nations to recognize our unique and special nature, the way to do it is not by conversing with them and trying to prove to them that we’re kind and sensitive and caring. That is commonplace, and everyone who creates laws and opinions based on their feelings believes they are doing the same, even if their laws are harmful and insensitive to some.
However, if we do what Hashem tells us to do, and we do it because it is what He has told us to do, this in itself will be the action to convince them, and it will speak louder than any words ever could. The way to make a good impression in the eyes of the world, as counterintuitive as it seems, is to ignore what they think, and focus on what Hashem, alone, wants us to be and do.
After 9/11, when terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, killing thousands, the world was in shock. It had never been done before and the sheer evil of this heinous plot was mind-blowing.
At the time, R’ Chaim Stein z”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Wickliffe, OH, remarked to his students: “I don’t mean to give any praise or honor to these villains. But if this is what they were willing to do for their god, what are we willing to do for our G-d?”
©2024 – J. Gewirtz
