FOR ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM
BEYOND MEASURE
A family was once hosting a party, but they had misplaced a spoon from their cutlery set. Down the road, the neighbor possessed a similar set of cutlery, and he loaned them a silver spoon for the night. The next morning, the borrower returned with an extra ten spoons. “Hey,” said the neighbor, “I only lent you one spoon. What is all this?” The guy replied, “Oh, don’t you know? The spoon you lent me was pregnant. Last night, in my house of all places, it gave birth to all these spoons. They rightfully belong to you.”
When the neighbor closed his door, he looked down at his new spoons with a chuckle. “What a nut!” he thought about his neighbor. But if the guy possessed the spirit of giving, he would not stand in the way of accepting this foolish generosity. He was eagerly looking forward to the next opportunity.
And it did not take too long. His neighbor was soon at his door for a fork from that set, and the next morning, after the fork had “given birth,” many more forks were added to the set. A few weeks later, his knife was also mysteriously pregnant, giving birth to several more knives.
A few weeks passed, and this time the guy was asking to borrow the whole set. The neighbor was brimming with excitement over what this meshugener from down the road was going to come up with next.
The next morning, the fellow came to the house empty handed. With a sad and forlorn face, he expressed his sorrow and condolences to his neighbor. He explained that, as a result of pregnancy complications, the entire set had tragically died.
“That’s utterly ridiculous!” thundered the neighbor. “These lifeless things cannot die! Enough with the games! Return my set to me at once!”
The fellow looked at his neighbor, and said: “When I offered you extra cutlery after they ‘gave birth,’ you had no problem accepting that this ‘lifeless’ matter can reproduce. Yet, when I advise you they are dead, you find that impossible to accept”?
The above tale (as expressed by the 18th century sage, Rabbi Yaakov Kranz of Dubno), is a parable to the Torah’s firm commandment repeated twice: “Neither add to the words (of the Torah law) which I am commanding you, nor take away from them. (This is) in order to preserve the commandments of the Lord, your G-d… Be careful to observe everything which I am commanding you. Do not add to it, and do not detract from it.” (D’varim (Deuteronomy) 4:2;13:1.)
While not subtracting any aspect from the Torah makes sense, adding onto the Torah should presumably demonstrate a commitment and a love. The above tale demonstrates, though, that once a Divine mandate is left up to human tampering, sooner or later things will “give birth,” and, by that very same measure, things will “perish.”
There are, however, exceptions to the above. First, over the many years, various prophets and sages introduced and instituted several commandments. The lighting of the Menorah on Chanukah, the miracle of which occurred long after biblical times, is one example. The ritual of washing one’s hands in the morning and before eating bread is a further example. Commandments, enactments, and decrees as such, are not considered additions to the Torah, providing that they are decidedly introduced as “Rabbinical” ratifications.
Second, as understood and learned from the second of this week’s two Torah portions, “Acharei” and “Kedoshim,” the Torah asks one to go a step further than the conventional following of the Torah. In the Torah’s words: “You should sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am G-d, your G-d.” (Vayikra (Leviticus) 20:7.) This verse is explained to mean that one should behave in a sanctified manner even with matters “permissible to you.” In other words, when a person feels a strong tendency or enthusiastic desire for fully permissible material pleasures, one should take measures to be more “sanctified” by demonstrating measure, control, and even restraint.
Adopting this measure sheds light upon the general commitment of following Divine precepts. Whenever a person performs a “Mitzvah,” a good deed, it is expected that the performance would introduce a level of Divine purity into his or her life. One engaged in Divine precepts is essentially seeking to be enwrapped in sanctity. It is logically expected of such people to be refined and distinguished.
Yet, following the letter of the Divine law as presented in the Torah could be motivated by rote, or by simply following familiar practices. It is also possible that a person follows the right path to stay out of trouble, not wishing to incur Heavenly wrath. It can be taken even further: it is conceivable that one may act improperly in “Permissible” situations. People can conform to the strictest rules regarding forbidden foods and still be gluttons and drunkards. Men can be completely faithful husbands, and be coarse in their interaction with their wives. The can find ways to remain within the Torah’s parameters and yet be behave like outlaws.
When a person, though, establishes the commitment to sanctity as a result of a choice, not merely because of the commandment, it can only be considered as a wish and desire to be connected to a Higher moral Authority, and live an elevated life.
In a relationship between friends or partners, one is expected to fulfill his or her commitments. Only then is the relationship and partnership a viable one. When either party – or both – goes beyond the call of duty, it demonstrates a higher commitment and a much deeper relationship beyond measure.
The Almighty wants a partnership with human beings. He has expectations from each individual, to use his or her talents to make this world into a more beautiful place. People who take this responsibility beyond the letter of the law openly commit themselves as paradigms of Divine representation on earth.
All of this effort will eventually bloom into this world’s becoming a most beautiful place with the onset of the Messianic era. Then, the entire world will be filled with divinity and beauty – and it is not too far off. In the meantime, we need to ensure that all “cutlery” remains in its shiny state, and in its rightful place…
SUMMARY: Adding to the Torah is frowned upon. Adding, though, to the commitment of mankind makes this world that much more beautiful.