* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Here is an appropriate idea to start the week with. Once after giving a lecture, I was approached by one of the students who said: “All of our lecturers stress the importance of thinking outside the box. It seems to me that the most original thing to do is to think inside the box!”
She was raising an interesting point. It’s good that we are always striving for innovation, but sometimes it seems that the focus in our progressive period today is on disposing of the old and producing something new to take its place.
This week’s parasha, Be’haalotcha, reminds us that the Halacha, the Torah, and our traditions are not something that we invent from scratch– we appreciate what we have and follow what is expected of us.
In our parasha, Aaron the kohen receives a commandment from God to kindle that Menorah in the Temple. The Torah describes Aaron’s response to this commandment in three straightforward words: “Aaron did so.” Rashi explains the message that these three words convey: “This is stated in order to tell the praise of Aaron-that he did not deviate (from God’s command).” Aaron’s daily service was praiseworthy because he consistently followed God’s commandment—to light the Menorah– and he did so with deep sincerity, integrity, and joy, time after time. Perhaps adhering faithfully to our “mundane” routine, observing the mitzvot on a consistent basis, and following the well-worn path is the greatest “chiddush” (innovation) of all. How many tasks in our lives simply need to be done properly because that is what is required of us?
Rashi is reminding us that sometimes the most praiseworthy deed is to keep doing what we are supposed to be doing, day after day.
I wish you much success in all that you do.
Shavua Tov!
