Parshat Ki Tetzei: What's a mitzvah? What's our mission?

Rabbi Philip Weintraub

Congregation Agudas Israel

9/17/16

How do we unite a list of disparate laws?

How do we unite a group of disparate people?

The answer is simple: We work towards shared purpose.  We work towards shared mission.

In our Torah, the mission was reaching Israel and building a new community.  Whether discussing the treatment of criminals, how to fight fairly, conduct business ethically, uphold societal norms, take care of the environment or remember the evils of Amalek, the 74 mitzvot found in this parsha focus on: teaching the people Israel how to live in Israel, morally, ethically, responsibly.

The rabbis are nervous about giving reasons and justifications for mitzvot.  If we know a mitzvah’s reason and origin, we are more likely to justify it away if the circumstances seem different.  For example, if we were to say that the prohibition on pork was to prevent trichinosis, does it apply when we have reliable ovens that can cook food thoroughly.  As Conservative Jews, we do not discard mitzvot willy-nilly, we know that kashrut--or at least avoiding pork, is a sign of Jewish identity, a covenant with God, a daily reminder of holiness through our eating choices.  As such, we have no need to discard the law, simply because one of its original rationales no longer applies.

There are numerous works on the rationales of mitzvot--some quite inspiring.  We speak about mitzvot as pathways to God, as ways of bringing holiness into our lives, as organizing principles.  I think about Steve Jobs wearing the same black turtleneck and jeans every single day--taking away some unnecessary choices gives us more creative energies for the rest of our day.  Taking time to pray and meditate, to thank God for the gifts of our lives on a regular basis makes us feel better.  So why do we have such a hard time with being told what to do?  Why do we as Americans put up such a fight about organizing our lives and our calendars according to someone or something else--GOD?

Powerfully, when we work on mitzvot together, we quickly build a community.  As Gil Troy, a Mcgill Professor and historian has argued: While some may say schwer zu sein a yid, it’s hard to be a Jew, when those outside our community look in, they sometimes say Mah Tovu ohalecha Yaakov--how wonderful are your tents o Jacob!  The organzing principles of our faith are not about faith at all--they are about action.  They are about getting together and building a cemetery, a school, a synagogue, finding kosher food.  When we were together on these endeavors, we find that common purpose. (http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/no-it-is-not-that-hard-to-be-a-jew/#)

The challenge sometimes is what happens AFTER the building is done?  How do we keep working together?  The answer is simple--use our mitzvot as a guide.

The mitzvot in this parsha are not all about ritual.  They are not all about prayer.  They are about the details of living in a unified and cooperative society.  Ensuring justice, fairness, being decent people. One might argue many more of them are universal and not just for Jews!  As my colleague and friend, Rabbi Mark Greenspan said this week,

“I would suggest that while one doesn’t have to be Jewish to be a good person, one can't be a good Jew without being a good person. Goodness is the bottom line. Justice is the measure of being God fearing. Rituals mean nothing if they are not based on a solid foundation of compassion and goodness.”

What is unique about the Jewish tradition, something I bring up regularly is that the ritual and the interpersonal commandments are intertwined and interrelated.  We are not completely fulfilling our destiny as Jews if we ignore one or the other.  I love to remind us of the mitzvot ben adam l’havero, between individuals, because we need to know that we are already following most of the commandments.  Yet we cannot forget the mitzvot ben adam l’Makom, between humanity and God.  If we ignore the rituals all together, it does not make us half-Jewish, but we have lost an opportunity to connect.  Once again, I preach to the choir--you are all here--you are choosing to be part of and not apart from community.  By being here, you are demonstrating the importance of prayer and mitzvot in your lives!

Looking at various mission statements out there, the ones I like best return to recognizing the various combined goals of a synagogue.

• A house of prayer: aiding our members in a search for meaning in life, fulfilling the spiritual needs and longing of our Jewish community, providing a path that brings us closer to each other and to G-d;
• A house of study: supporting and fostering a community dedicated to Jewish knowledge, learning and living;
• A house of assembly: creating a welcoming home and sense of family for our members.
• An integral part of the foundation of K'lal Yisroel, the Jewish people, supporting Israel and all good causes with support, both financial and otherwise.

In short, the way we become a community is by choosing to make ourselves one--by working together to uphold the values of God, Torah and Israel, living the mitzvot both ritually and communally.