When we begin to familiarize ourselves with the practices of Judaism called Mitzvot, we realize that each Mitzvah has many details and parameters that define the proper implementation of the Mitzvah. The are time parameters (we don’t observe Shabbat on Tuesday). There are space parameters (a Mezuzah must be placed on the right doorpost, at the bottom of the top third). There are parameters of substance (we don’t cook meat and dairy together). There are parameters of attitude (we must love G-d with all our heart). There are parameters of volume (for a Mikvah to render one pure it must contain a minimum of 40 seah – 120 gallons of rainwater). You get the drift.
The question is, “Why does G-d care?” The truth is that there is a broader question of “Why does G-d care what we do altogether?” Why does the Al-Mighty creator of the universe take interest in the insignificant actions of little me or you? Are we suffering from delusions of grandeur to believe that our choices matter to Hashem?
The answer is love. G-d established a relationship of love with us, not just the collective us, but each and every individual. At Mt. Sinai, when He declared, “I am the L-rd your G-d,” He spoke in singular form, addressing Himself to each one individually. When you love, what your beloved does for you matters.
Let us examine a beautiful passage from the Talmud. Rabbi Chananya ben Akashya said: “The Holy One, blessed be He, wished to make the people of Israel meritorious; therefore He gave them Torah and Mitzvot in abundant measure, as it is written: ‘The L‑rd desired, for the sake of his [Israel’s] righteousness, to make the Torah great and glorious.’”
Hashem wants to give us merit. Therefore, he gives us Mitzvot in abundant measure, filled with detailed parameters. As we pay attention to the details and follow the parameters of the Mitzvot, our merit increases. The Hebrew verb, L’zacot – to make meritorious, also has another connotation. L’zacot, can also mean to refine or polish. So in fact, with Mitzvot and their details, Hashem is giving us opportunities for self-refinement, the ability to polish ourselves into the finest version that we can be.
That is a lot of love!
The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe once remarked regarding the requirement to wait six hours after eating meat before one can consume dairy, Hashem watches and waits 5 hours and 59 minutes to see His beloved remain faithful to the parameters of the six-hour wait. That one minute makes a difference to Him as much as the six hours.
Feel the love! Feel the caring! Feel the interest! For Hashem loves you with an infinite love that only He is capable of.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin