Re: Mitzvah--A thought for Erev Shabbat

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

While I understand and can relate to Jonathan Gordon's dour understanding of 
the variable meanings of "mitzvah" (below). I'd like to add another 
perspective.

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (formerly known as Jeff Oboler when he lived in 
this country; now in Israel) taught me that the Hebrew word "mitzvah" is 
related to the Aramaic word "tsavta"--to join or connect--and to the Hebrew 
word for "tongs," which is "tsvat" (alluded to in Ethics of the Fathers, 5:8 
or 5:6, depending on the edition's numbering).

So a mitzvah--though I share, certainly, Jonathan's understanding of the 
word as meaning "that which is commanded"--can also be "an action which 
connects us to G*d."

And so any mitzvah--whether it is tzedakah or study or prayer;

lighting Chanukah candles or Shabbat candles;

taking care not to (even subtly) mislead or deceive others--for example, 
into giving you credit for something that you do not deserve, or by asking a 
storekeeper the price of an item that you have no intention of buying; not 
giving bad or ignorant advice (e.g., when you're asked directions that you 
really don't know); not robbing others of their sleep (!) [all of these are 
very specific violations of ethical mitzvot, on which I'll be glad to 
elaborate if desired--or just read, and study, Zelig Pliskin's LOVE YOUR 
NEIGHBOR--an elaboration of "Love your neighbor as yourself" as it is 
exemplified in every parsha/weekly portion of the Torah]--

any mitzvah can be seen as an *opportunity* to be close to G*d--which is, 
surely, what so much contemporary "spirituality" is all about!

(Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg once wrote, "If you want to be close to G*d, do a 
mitzvah--any mitzvah.")

Indeed, my teacher Shlomo Carlebach, z"tl, taught that just believing in G*d 
is a mitzvah (not always an easy one to fulfill? ...)--and that just 
*wanting* to be close to G*d is, already, to be closer to Him.

Shabbat Shalom to all,

Robert Cohen


>
>To further Sam's perceptive remarks about the ever-loosening use of the 
>word mitzvah. Mitzvah has become any kind deed or even substituted for the 
>word m'tsiah. I think that in addition to the obvious eroding of 
>traditional education in the Jewish people at large, there is a religious 
>cosmology beneath the change. I refer to the idea that religious 
>commandments are perceived as elective or a life style choice. Thus a 
>mitzvah, which once was a command from our higher power, now is a guideline 
>or an opportunity, or just one of a host of possible actions, seemingly 
>without substantial impact or witness. Once being a maskil was bold 
>rebellion.  Now it is a banal shrug.
>jonathan gordon
>
>






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