Let us not take our mitzvos for granted

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  • #601319
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    I had a thought today that I’d like to share.

    Chanukah is the only Jewish holiday which contains at least one Shabbos and also a Rosh Chodesh. Both Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh are things that our enemies tried to eradicate from our lives when the Chanukah miracle took place. And they did not succeed. We still enjoy Shabbos and we still celebrate Rosh Chodesh.

    I was wondering why Chanukah is the only holiday that has a Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh in it. And now I think I know why. G-d is giving us the opportunity to fulfill these wonderful mitzvos specifically during the time in which we commemorate the miracles He did for us against the people who tried to eradicate these particular mitzvos. G-d is teaching us that we should never take our mitzvos for granted. That these special times of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh (and Chanukah) are times that we must cherish and appreciate as much as we can.

    That’s why G-d put Chanukah together with a Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh. We should be especially grateful to Him on the Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh during Chanukah for giving us the opportunity to celebrate such special times that our enemies tried to take away. May we always cherish our mitzvos and never take them for granted.

    Thank you Emunas Itecha for giving me inspiration to think more deeply about the special time of Chanukah, which helped me think about this idea.

    #839688
    chulent dude
    Member

    that is a very nice thought. When iread the question i thought of the same answeer tht u gave tht the yevanim specifically tried to take away these mitzvos.

    #839689
    oomis
    Participant

    Well-said, Middle Path.

    #839690
    Queen Bee
    Member

    Really great post, MP!

    #839691
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    Thanks, chulent dude. I’m happy you thought of the same answer!

    Thanks, oomis and QB!

    Does anyone else have any thoughts about this?

    #839692
    WIY
    Member

    MP

    Your dvar Torah is very nice. Just some ha’aros:

    Since the oil burnt 8 days we celebrate 8 days so automatically there will be a Shabbos in there. Just saying. Also Chanukah falls on 25 Kislev in commemoration of the historical fact that the Jewish fighters rested from their battles against Syrian-Greeks on the 25th of Kislev. So again an 8 day Yom Tov starting 25 Kislev would automatically have in it a Rosh Chodesh.

    #839693
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    Thanks, WIY. And yes, I am aware of that. I just thought one can take a valuable lesson from the way the dates work out. We can always gain inspiration, even from things that just happen to be true.

    #839694
    WIY
    Member

    MP

    “We can always gain inspiration, even from things that just happen to be true.”

    True. The Torah is endlessly deep and is shrouded in many levels of meaning.

    #839695
    🍫Syag Lchochma
    Participant

    This is more along the lines of the title than the OP so I hope it’s okay. I went today to visit my great aunt who is over ninety. She has buried both children and many neices and nephews (my mom and sister included) in the past few years. She has only one of nine siblings alive. In the last few weeks she has lost the will to live. She has no Torah to fall back on and sees no point. Today she asked me why she should try. She asked if there is a reason to fight. I told her that every minute is another chance to be thankful. I said she should try for all the people who get enjoyment from coming to visit her. I wanted to cry for all the emptiness inside her and I don’t ever want to forget how lucky I am to know the value of a minute, and the power of a mitzvah. Living another second to do another good deed, to say another kapitel tehillim, to have hakaras hatov for anything and everything is such a gift that I can no longer take for granted.

    #839696
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    Agreed, WIY.

    Wow, Syag. I’m so sorry for the situation your great aunt is in, but I’m thankful she has someone as caring as you to get support and inspiration from. It is wonderful that you can gain that appreciation for mitzvos, and life in general, from such a depressing situation. You truly know how to look at things in a positive way. We can all learn from you, and your great aunt should be proud to have a family member like you. Wishing your great aunt much success in finding a new happiness and fulfillment in life, and in good health.

    #839697
    🍫Syag Lchochma
    Participant

    You are not only kind and caring but an unbelievable catalyst. May you continue to inspire so many of us to think and share.

    It’s funny how the siblings of hers all made sure to give their kids the ‘american dream’ instead of ‘staying stuck in the old fashioned ways’ of their parents. But they always showed up at our house with their grandchildren on Shabbos and Yom Tov afternoons and they take so much pride in my children’s yiddishkeit. My four year old asked me after we left why my aunt was so sad. I told her that when people are old and immobile, if they think that you have to do things to be useful, then they will be sad. But if they know that Hashem is happy to have you, than they will be happy to be here.

    #839698
    observanteen
    Member

    What a profound thought, MiddlePath. I never thought of it that way! I am in need of chizuk in this area, so thanks a lot for sharing.

    Syag lechochma: Your post gave me the chills. Often, I do take the mitzvos for granted, and do the mitzvos robotically. That was an eye-opener for me, and got me thinking…so thank you!

    #839699
    🍫Syag Lchochma
    Participant

    observanteen – Thanks. If you were sitting there you wouldn’t have missed it. I think my husband was fighting tears. I give you a bracha that you should pick up as much as you can from other peoples lessons so you won’t have to learn any of it the hard way! You sound so amazing for your age, I have no doubt you’ll get there.

    #839700
    🍫Syag Lchochma
    Participant

    This is a little embarrassing to share but it definitely helped me take my mitzvos more seriously. I would always tell myself (out loud in my head) that Hashem was proud of me when I did a mitzvah. Like encouraging a little kid. And if I didn’t want to do it I would tell myself how proud Hashem will be if I do. It is funny how we do things when we think someone is paying attention and actually cares. And I say it all the time so I am used to hearing it and I find myself actually feeling like He is there sometimes, cheering me on. Davening with a drop more feeling, being a tiny bit more patient, I know He noticed and I feel like I have someone to share my efforts and successes with. Over the years it’s made a huge difference in my connection to Him and other things.

    #839701
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    Thanks for your kind words, Syag and observanteen!

    Syag, there is no reason to feel embarrassed to share that, I found it remarkable and a wonderful way to encourage ourselves to do good deeds. I actually do that myself too at times. I also think about my relationship with G-d, and consider Him to be my father. That really does help a lot with doing good deeds and trying to stay away from bad deeds, because I don’t want to let Him down.

    #839702
    observanteen
    Member

    Syag: Thank you so much for your encouraging words and beautiful bracha. It’s truly appreciated! BTW, I just want to say that your story inspired me to do mitzvos with more kavana and concentration. Thank you SO much!:)And thanks for sharing your “embarrassing piece”! I gained a lot. You are a true inspiration.

    #839703
    msseeker
    Member

    MP, I learned this remez in school, plus this: the eight days stands for bris milah, which is done on the eighth day. So in Chanukah we see all three mitzvos the yevanim forbade: Shabbos, Milah, Chodesh.

    #839704
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    That’s very nice, msseeker! Thanks for sharing.

    #839705
    tzaddiq
    Member

    middlepath – thank you for the nice thought. similar to this vort:

    http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/kasha-of-beis-yosef#post-335139

    #839706
    kapusta
    Participant

    Emunas, looks like you have some serious competition.

    *kapusta*

    #839707
    MiddlePath
    Participant

    tzaddiq, I’m sorry I didn’t respond to you until now. Thanks kapusta for bringing this thread back up! And yes, you’re right, it is very similar to that. Thanks!

    kapusta, thanks, but I’m not even close to Enumas’ posts. I got my inspiration from Emunas, so we aren’t even competing. But thank you, that is a huge compliment!

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