Day 48

A mitzvah is the ultimate expression of how Judaism views religion. The word means either “commandment” from the root word tzav, or “connection” as derived from the word tzavta.1 As with any relationship, forgoing one’s own will for the sake of another is integral to establishing a bond. So too, it is through observing the divine commandments that one establishes a connection with God. Moreover, the mitzvot govern every dimension of our lives, thus enabling us to bring God into every part of the human experience. From a kosher breakfast in the morning to a quick prayer before sleep, mitzvot provide the opportunity for maintaining an ongoing relationship with God beyond the confines of a synagogue and not limited to the awe-inspiring High Holy Days. However, a mitzvah allows for more than simply a connection. The Midrash defines the purpose of this world’s creation with the words, “God desired to have an abode in the lower worlds.”2 Thus, it is man’s task to – in essence – establish an abode for Divinity in the terrestrial realm. How is this achieved? Man and the world are finite entities limited to the confines of time and space, whereas God is an all-transcendent Infinite Being. How can man expect to draw the Divine into the world?

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