Bechukotai<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nJust Because
\nThink before you act.<\/p>\n
I think that\u2019s a good principle for life; it\u2019s one I teach to my kids.<\/p>\n
But it doesn\u2019t always apply.<\/p>\n
When I awake at night to the sound of my baby crying in feverish pain, do I pause for calculations? Do I weigh my options, balancing the inconvenient awakening with the distinct possibility that I may need this kid when<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a geriatric?<\/p>\n
Nah. I just jump out of bed. Why? Just because.<\/p>\n
Because I share a special relationship with my baby, a deep connection that defies description. When he calls, that extraordinary bond beckons, and I need to respond. So I jump out of bed, sans intellectual analysis. Just because.<\/p>\n
Is it rational? Not really. But it’s not irrational either. Let’s call it super-rational.<\/p>\n
I rationally understand that this relationship has tremendous depth.<\/p>\n
My intellectual analysis confirms that this is a safe and intimate connection. When I genuinely feel safe in a relationship, when I can truly let my guard down, I can confidently move upward into the transcendent world of super-rationality, love etc.<\/p>\n
The same applies to my marriage, and \u2013 perhaps in differing degrees – to any other deep, safe relationship.<\/p>\n
I feel that way with G-d, too.<\/p>\n
When I contemplate a Jewish practice, I want to understand its contribution to my life and my destiny; I want to appreciate how it elevates my consciousness and\/or improves my day.<\/p>\n
But that understanding and appreciation isn\u2019t an absolute prerequisite. I feel safe enough with G d, confident enough in the rock-solid stability of our relationship, to do a Mitzvah \u2018just because\u2019. Actually, doing something for a loved one \u2018just because\u2019 (super-rationally as distinct from irrationally) adds a special flavor to the recipe of our relationship. It says \u2018I trust you\u2019. It says \u2018I love you\u2019.<\/p>\n
Doing something for G-d \u2018just because\u2019 lays an extraordinary element to the bond we share. It says \u2018I\u2019m yours\u2019 and \u2018I surrender\u2019.<\/p>\n
So even when I can find personal benefit in my interaction with a loved one, I should always try to find a shining \u2018just because\u2019 at its core. Because commitment without a \u2018just because\u2019 is commitment of my mind and actions, but not commitment of my soul. For some relationships that\u2019s enough, and for some relationships it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Why did G-d create the world that way?<\/p>\n
Just because.<\/p>\n
Shabbat Shalom!
\nRabbi Yanky Klein<\/p>\n
This email is In Loving memory of my dear father
\nR’ Yerachmiel Binyamin Halevi ben R, Menachem Klein OBM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shabbat Candle Lighting Times for Moscow, Russia Friday, June 3rd Light Candles at 20:46 Weekly Kabbalat Shabbat Services 20:30 Shabbat, June 4th, Shabbat Ends 22:41 Torah Portion: Bechukotai Just Because Think before you act. I think that\u2019s a good principle for life; it\u2019s one I teach to my kids. But it doesn\u2019t always apply. When …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2876"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2882,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2876\/revisions\/2882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jewishmoscow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}