LIVING WITH MOSHIACH #2085

In memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok ben R' Zalman Yuda Deitsch OBM

I Could Never Do That

The positive commandments reveal in us G-d’s attributes, but the negative commandments reveal in us G‑d’s Essence

(Tikkunei Zohar 4a)

Judaism is full of “do nots.” At first this may seem very negative and restrictive. However, specifically these prohibitions reveal our essential connection to G-d and the deepest point of our faith.

Sometimes a person feels that he could never do something. This restraint does not come from a bad experience; instead it comes from a sense of self. The prohibitions in the Torah are designed to cultivate this sensitivity, attuning us to our G-dly core. In this sense, what we don’t do cultivates our free spirit more than anything else.

A key sign of personal liberation is a sense of dignity and integrity. When nothing in the world can sway you to compromise your values—that is true freedom.