During the open sukkah last Sunday afternoon, I overheard Rabbi Dean mention that it bothers him when mitzvah is interpreted to mean “good deed”. He said mitzvah means” commandment”. This comment, that I heard out of context, sparked some thought on my part. I looked up “mitzvah/ מצווה” on the internet and found that Google translates it as “ordered” and the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “commandment”. So, of course Rabbi Dean is correct, but what does it mean to us?
It seems to me that a good deed is something we choose to do to win points or earn good karma. Something like if I do these good things my spiritual credit score will improve. However, actual credit scores are largely based on things you are supposed to do. You are supposed to pay your bills. There is nothing heroic or special about it. Perhaps it is the same for mitzvot. They are commandments and there is nothing heroic or special about performing them. They are what we are supposed to do.
Marilyn Hertzberg has been leading our Caring Community for decades and recently needed to step down. There are not enough ways to adequately thank Marilyn for all she has done over the years. Yes, our community owes Marilyn a lot, but even without her leadership the work must continue. That means that someone else must step up. Caring for each other, especially when someone is in need, is not optional. It is a commandment that we must obey and we need someone to organize how we do it.
Please contact me (president@tbhrichmond.org) if you are ready to chair our Caring Community. It may not be convenient. In fact it may be hard and at times frustrating, but the work must get done. We have to do it. We are commanded to do it.
From the President – Sept. 30, 2021
September 30, 2021 by tbhrich • president
During the open sukkah last Sunday afternoon, I overheard Rabbi Dean mention that it bothers him when mitzvah is interpreted to mean “good deed”. He said mitzvah means” commandment”. This comment, that I heard out of context, sparked some thought on my part. I looked up “mitzvah/ מצווה” on the internet and found that Google translates it as “ordered” and the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “commandment”. So, of course Rabbi Dean is correct, but what does it mean to us?
It seems to me that a good deed is something we choose to do to win points or earn good karma. Something like if I do these good things my spiritual credit score will improve. However, actual credit scores are largely based on things you are supposed to do. You are supposed to pay your bills. There is nothing heroic or special about it. Perhaps it is the same for mitzvot. They are commandments and there is nothing heroic or special about performing them. They are what we are supposed to do.
Marilyn Hertzberg has been leading our Caring Community for decades and recently needed to step down. There are not enough ways to adequately thank Marilyn for all she has done over the years. Yes, our community owes Marilyn a lot, but even without her leadership the work must continue. That means that someone else must step up. Caring for each other, especially when someone is in need, is not optional. It is a commandment that we must obey and we need someone to organize how we do it.
Please contact me (president@tbhrichmond.org) if you are ready to chair our Caring Community. It may not be convenient. In fact it may be hard and at times frustrating, but the work must get done. We have to do it. We are commanded to do it.
We are Temple Beth Hillel.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Michael R Cohen, President, Temple Beth Hillel