What Motivates Us To
Keep Commandments?

Parshat Behar-Bechukotai: Leviticus
25:1-27:34; Jeremiah 16:19-17:14.

I

n this week's double portion,
prise. The line "we will do, and we will
we find some of the most theo-
hear" has also been pointed to by tra-
logically challenging verses in our
ditional commentators as demonstrat-
Bible. In particular, we fmd a number
ing the faith that the Israelites had in
of verses that say that if we follow the
God, committing to doing as instructed
commandments, things for us will be
before understanding what they were
great; but if we don't, we're told that
doing fully. Some argue that our entire
God will discipline us seven-fold for our lives as Jews are based on this model of
sins. Whoa!
doing first, and then later on with time
This doesn't seem to suggest a real
coming to understand and appreciate.
choice as it relates to accepting the
The reality, however, is that many of
commandments — we're
us today are actively seeking
threatened with severe
meaning and value in how we
punishment if we don't fol-
live our lives — and specifi-
low them. Given that we so
cally in our Jewish actions.
recently left slavery in Egypt
Outside of a commanded-
in our narrative, it's hard
ness framework — which the
to understand how exactly
majority of Jews don't ascribe
being coerced to perform a
to — there is no real reason
significant number of new
to do mitzvot absent our
finding personal meaning
commandments is necessar-
ily all that much better.
and value in doing them.
Rabb i Dan
Rather, it appears like
While na'aseh v'nishma
Hor witz
we went from one form of
may have worked for our
bondage into another, as
ancestors, for many of us
God brings the Israelites
today, it is not as convincing
out of Egypt so that they can serve God
(or workable) a model. Doing without
rather than their Egyptian masters.
meaning leads to disconnect and distaste.
How do we make sense of this?
Instead, I'd argue that infusing meaning
Some say that true freedom is the
with doing is the secret to success.
ability to willingly put restrictions on
This Shabbat, examine the Jewish
oneself (as opposed to having them put
activities you do on a regular basis.
on you by another). In terms of how
Why do you do them? What are the key
we stomach what at an initial glance
elements that facilitate those activities
appear to be God-imposed require-
adding meaning to your life? Do you
ments, we can look to Exodus 24:7,
find that you simply do things without
which states: 'And he [Moses] took the
really understanding them? If so, what
book of the covenant, and read it in the
keeps you from digging deeper?
By bringing intention to our actions,
hearing of the people; and they said: All
that God has spoken, na'aseh v'nishma
we ensure that they become ever more
[we will do, and we will hear] "'
meaningful and valuable as we seek
This passage from the Torah shares
to harmoniously meld our Jewish and
that the Israelites knew what they were
contemporary American lives.
getting into when accepting the Torah,
Dan Horwitz is founding director and rabbi
and they assented to being bound by it.
Thus, the commandments were expect- of The Well, a liberal Jewish community-
building, education and spirituality outreach
ed and accepted, so any accompanying
consequences wouldn't have been a sur- initiative (www.meetyouatthewelLorg).

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May 14 • 2015

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