"כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃"
“This Mitzvah that I command you today is not beyond you and not beyond your reach.”
The Torah goes to great lengths to convey how much simpler it is to keep ‘this Mitzvah’ than we may think. We’re treated to a host of metaphors to drive the point home. ‘This Mitzvah’ is not too high up in the heavens, not too distant across the sea. It’s so close to us - in our very mouths and hearts.
What exactly is, ‘this Mitzvah’? The answer is richly debated amongst the Rishonim. The Ramban famously identifies it as the Mitzvah of Teshuva - fitting in nicely with the lead-up to the Yamim Noraim and previous verses. The Rambam and others do not count Teshuva as an independent Mitzvah - seeing this passage as referring to the full body of Mitzvot in the Torah.
The Kli Yakar explores both opinions. The common theme in his explanations is that Bnei Yisrael has unique access to the deeper meaning and simple performance of these actions - be it Teshuva or all of the Mitzvot. At face value, the Mitzvot may seem tremendously difficult to perform, but Hashem promises us here that if we’re courageous enough just to try, we will find a deep resonance and effortless engagement when performing His will.
The Kli Yakar quotes Vayikra Rabbah on the Mitzvah of Korbanot, “Hashem says, ‘I did not burden you with bringing species [for sacrifices] that are not in your possession, but rather from the cattle and sheep that you already have’.” The Kli Yakar applies this principle to all of the Mitzvot. Hashem doesn’t command us to bring something from ‘far away’ for a Mitzvah - but rather from that which we already have.
Ultimately, Hashem only demands of us to realise the potential that He has already placed within us. If you’re being called to do it, know that it’s only because you can and must do it. Believing in Hashem should reveal the belief that Hashem has in you.
Too often we think that living a life of Mitzvot involves giving up who we are to follow the laws of a remote G-d - difficult, onerous and costly. That misguided belief is what sets the stage for such an underwhelming experience. Judaism asserts that the exact opposite is true.
"מודה אני לפניך… רבה אמונתיך"
“Thank you Hashem… great is Your belief [in me]”
As we wake up to the sound of the shofar this Elul, may we find the inner resolve and resonance in taking simple actions on the path to becoming our best selves.
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