Turn it and turn it...
Gleaning wisdom from the weekly Torah reading
5/21/20261 min read
Shavuot
You shall consume the tithes of your new grain and wine and oil...only in the place God chooses...so that you may learn to revere Adonai, your God, forever. Deuteronomy 14:23
The place God "chooses" is Jerusalem. Our obligation is to try to fulfill the mitzvot in a "Jerusalem" state of mind, open to God's presence in our lives. Rav Nison Tzvi Finkel (1849-1927)
Jerusalem is supposed to be the joy of all the land. A "Jerusalem" state of mind is one that is filled with joy and wonderment and devoid of anxiety and burden. When we engage in Jewish practice it should be with joy and contentment rather than guilt and fear.