January 27, 2010

Dear Friends:

What drives you to participate in OOTC?  Is it social stimulation, family bonding, the desire to help the needy? Or is it the will of G-d? A Commandment? Mitzvot?

There are perhaps two types of mitzvot. Mishpatim are society-oriented mitzvot whose utility are clear. i.e: Do Not Murder.  Chukkim are mitzvot whose meanings are less obvious; their purpose hidden from us perhaps because of the incapacity of our intellects or the deficiency of our knowledge but they are commanded.. i.e: The mixing of wool and linen. Both the mitzvot are stressing the idea that the principal beneficiaries of the commandments are Us, not G-d. It affects the person who performs the mitzvot, refining and elevating the human being. (Nachmanides)

Why should we follow these mitzvot? Various commentators have suggestions: It will bring us closer to G-d, holy, emulating G-d, it’s a decree, to purify humanity, to make us aware of consequences, subservience to G-d, mindfulness.

One who fulfills the mitzvot in a dry, mechanical way has less of a chance of being one who “rejoices in acting justly.”  Maimonides

At OOTC, performing a mitzvah with deep understanding of its function makes the fulfillment qualitatively better. The act of a mitzvah is not just a bodily movement; it involves heart and mind, too. Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb

There were so many expressions of mitzvot last night. Ahuva and Fred have the knack of buttering the buns “lavishly.”  The cooks led by Patricia satisfied the tastes of our 106 guests with broccoli soup, chicken with mushroom cream sauce, rice. All of it GONE. Comments: “Better than a restaurant,” “Deadly,” “The red ribbon is awarded to you!”

Getting to the church by 6:15 am, Ruth and Ron made breakfast for 13 guests who were so appreciative.

One volunteer said to the coordinator of volunteers last night, “Thanks for letting me come!”  We are thrilled to produce so many mitzvah maniacs with a routine of “feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and breaking the chains of the bound.” “(You) have a very broad notion of self, including as many people as possible. Your neighbour’s problems are yours. Your city’s problems are yours. Your planet’s problems are yours… Your ‘me’ is ‘we.’Rabbi Elyse Goldstein

See you next week,

Cindy