It says in this week's parasha, “Look,
I place before you a blessing and a curse. The blessing for when you
listen to the commandments of Hashem, your God... And the curse –
if you do not listen to the commandments of Hashem, your God and you
veer from the path which I command you today; to follow other
gods, which you did not know.” [11:26-29]
Why do the last five words in the posuk
say, “...which you did not know?”
Let's say someone worships an idol
(which clearly has no source of power,) does the Torah say, “which
you did not know,” because you can't see the idol's true
worthlessness? As in, you're too ignorant to see you're worshiping
something in a state of nonexistence, a.k.a. Nothingness?
Perhaps we can give an alternative
answer with one question: Why would someone worship “other” gods?
I know someone who has traveled the world to find “himself” and
the “right” religion. Eventually, after many years of searching,
he found the only religion he felt was worthy – Judaism.
He feels like he really “knows”
Hashem. Knows? Yes, he knows Hashem as in connected to Him! The more
you do something with a friend, the more you get to know him. In his
case, it was Torah and Mitzvos which helped him feel closeness to
Hashem. He now does Avodas Hashem instead of Avoda Zara.
One of the ways we can achieve
closeness to Hashem is by taking the Mesilas Yesharim's advice.
Mesilas Yesharim says, “When man
realizes the great worth of mitzvos and his obligation to them,
surely his heart will awaken and not weaken to do the service.
However, what can
strengthen it, is the observation of the goodness which Hashem does
for man, all the time.” [Chapter 8 – Zeal] Observing and
appreciating the multiple kindnesses that Hashem does for all of
mankind in addition to each individual will help us feel close to
him.
There's a lesson this week's Parasha
and Mesilas Yesharim teaches us: The importance of getting to “know”
Hashem. The more you “know” Hashem, the more your faith and
motivation to learn and do mitzvos strengthens.
Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso
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