Our Mitzvos Soar with Simcha
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Pekudei
After the Jewish people had completed building the Mishkan, Moshe blessed them with the words יהי רצון שתשרה שכינה במעשה ידיכם “May it be Your will that You rest Your Shechina in their handiwork”.
One of the ways in which the Yetzer Hara attempts to prevent us from serving Hashem and engaging in Torah and Mitzvos, is by making us feel lowly and depressed.
When we come to fulfill a Mitzvah, to study Torah or to Daven, the Yetzer Hara plagues us with questions; “who are you to approach Hashem to serve Him, when you are filled with sins. Does Hashem really desire the service of such a person?”.
Whilst these thoughts may appear virtuous and pious, they come from the Yetzer Hara with the express purpose of deflating us. A Mitzvah can only ascend on high when it is observed with Simcha. By making us feel bad, the Yetzer Hara attempts to prevent our Mitzvos from ascending.
This is alluded to in the verses of Hallel that were said by King David. “The nations surround me, by the Name of Hashem I will cut them down. They pushed me to fall but Hashem helped me… I will not die, but live.”
Reading the verse slightly differently, Dovid is describing how the forces of negativity surround us, seeking to push us down with the Name of Hashem, with false piety that we are unworthy. But with Hashem’s help we will ensure that our Mitzvos are not observed with sadness and die, rather through Simcha, they will live.
This was Moshe’s blessing to Bnei Yisrael. That their Mitzvos, like the building of the Mishkan, should be filled with joy and not sadness. Then they will find favour before Hashem and He will desire to rest His Shechina within them.
One of the ways in which the Yetzer Hara attempts to prevent us from serving Hashem and engaging in Torah and Mitzvos, is by making us feel lowly and depressed.
When we come to fulfill a Mitzvah, to study Torah or to Daven, the Yetzer Hara plagues us with questions; “who are you to approach Hashem to serve Him, when you are filled with sins. Does Hashem really desire the service of such a person?”.
Whilst these thoughts may appear virtuous and pious, they come from the Yetzer Hara with the express purpose of deflating us. A Mitzvah can only ascend on high when it is observed with Simcha. By making us feel bad, the Yetzer Hara attempts to prevent our Mitzvos from ascending.
This is alluded to in the verses of Hallel that were said by King David. “The nations surround me, by the Name of Hashem I will cut them down. They pushed me to fall but Hashem helped me… I will not die, but live.”
Reading the verse slightly differently, Dovid is describing how the forces of negativity surround us, seeking to push us down with the Name of Hashem, with false piety that we are unworthy. But with Hashem’s help we will ensure that our Mitzvos are not observed with sadness and die, rather through Simcha, they will live.
This was Moshe’s blessing to Bnei Yisrael. That their Mitzvos, like the building of the Mishkan, should be filled with joy and not sadness. Then they will find favour before Hashem and He will desire to rest His Shechina within them.