Parshas Yisro - Its Geshmak to be a Yid!

In this weeks פרשה, ה' tells משה to go “sell” the תורה to כלל ישראל. ה' writes the script. He says ''אלה הדברים אשר תדבר אל ישראל''. On that פסוק- רש"י says ''לא פחות ולא יותר''- ה' is commanding him to not add anything and detract anything. ה' doesn’t want כלל ישראל to beמקבל theתורה for a different reason. What does the פסוק say? “You saw all the ניסים.” “I took you out on the wings of eagles.” All of this- “in order that you will be close to me and be an עם סגולה מכל העמים.” “You will be to me a ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש.” A holy nation. What is Hashem offering us? To be עם סגולה- we will be special. In what way? We will be a ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש. It didn’t say a word about עולם הבא, no fringe benefits and not a word about reward in this world or the next. They weren’t given those promises when they were offered the Torah. Choose it because of what you are going to become. They responded נעשה ונשמע. Why does an individual choose torah? What do we live by? Do you want to live by values, meaning, do you want to know right from wrong? Do you want to know what life really is? Torah is for you! Rambam writes “the purpose of man's existence is to develop his wisdom”. He defines this as “knowing things as they are”. The natural state of a human being is to live in illusion. The highest level of wisdom to understand the oneness of Hashem. Living by truth and reality. not by what is convenient and not by what is comfortable. This is what Jews are supposed to be about. To live by truth to any expense. We demand that things make sense. Being Jewish means sane living. This is what you present to the Jews. It's not about the next world. Even without עולם הבא- this is what a Yid wants to be. There is nothing that feels better than being part of the ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש - Elevated and living רוחניות. That was why we chose it back then. That is what makes you feel great! Theגיבור that is כובש את יצרו! The בחירה בחיים - choosing life! That is what we want! This concept is something that you can deeply feel The challenge is to recognize that Torah and Mitzvos is good. Being in control of the Yetzer is empowering. That giving is so much more geshmak then receiving. To be at peace feels so much better than fighting. It’s so much better when you are Me’vater than to be bickering with friends and neighbors all day. The issue isn't a feeling of “This is what I have to do” rather it’s to use your brain. Think “What is better? There is a great song – geshmak to be a yid – its true - Torah life is wonderful”; the alternative is emptiness. You why we should want to do good and be good - its because we feel better, we feel happier and more fulfilled because our נשמה isשלם with it and vice versa a person feels ‘uch’ in the other situations A Yid, that is the only thing that משה had to sell to כלל ישראל- not a word about שכר. We feel so much better when we are plugged in, we know its taking us somewhere. This week we were told by Hashem we are special and גוי קדוש. Feel the happiness, and share the joy with your families.