This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in honor of the marriage of Isaac and Aviva. And special thanks to Alex K. for notifying me of a MAJOR omission in the original version of this article, which prompted me to rewrite it!
Click here for a printer-friendly version of this article, and click here for an audio version.
 |
| Artwork: Brainstorm, by Justin and Alexis Hernandez |
Rambam: On Awakening (The Question)
The Rambam spells out the “message” of shofar in Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4:
Even though the sounding of the shofar on Rosh ha'Shanah is a Scriptural decree, it contains a remez (allusion): it is as if it is saying, "Wake up, wake up you sleepers from your sleep, and you slumberers from your deep slumber! Analyze your actions, return in teshuvah, and remember your Creator" – these are the people who forget reality, due to the vain temporal pursuits, and whose entire year is steeped in vain temporality and emptiness which neither benefits nor saves – "Look into your souls and improve your ways and your deeds. Each and every one of you: abandon your evil way and your scheming that is not good!"
A second instance of “waking up” can be found in Hilchos Tefilin, u’Mezuzah, v’Sefer Torah 6:13:
Every person is obligated to be careful with mezuzah, for it is a continual obligation for everyone. Every time a person enters and exits, he will encounter the idea of the Oneness of Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu’s Name, and he will remember the love of Him and he will wake up from his slumber and his immersion in vain temporal pursuits and he will know that nothing lasts forever and ever except for the knowledge of the Eternal Rock; immediately, he will return to his mind and walk in the ways of uprightness. The Sages say: Anyone who has tefilin on his head and arm, tzitzis on his garment, and a mezuzah on his door – it is presumed that he will not sin, for he has many reminders, and these reminders are the “angels” that save him from sinning, as it is stated: “The angel of Hashem encamps around His reverent ones and releases them” (Tehilim 34:8).
A third reference to the metaphor of waking up can be found in Hilchos Avel 13:12:
Any person who does not mourn as the Sages commanded is achzari (lit. "cruel" or "indifferent"). Rather, he should be fearful and worried and should examine his deeds and return in teshuvah. If a member of one's social group dies, the entire social group should worry.For the first three days, one should see himself as though a sword is resting on his shoulder. From three days until seven days, [he should envision the sword] waiting in the corner. From then and on, [he should envision the sword] passing before him in the marketplace. All of this is so that a person should prepare himself to return [in teshuvah] and awaken from his slumber, for it is written: "You have stricken them, but they have not trembled" (Yirmiyahu 5:3). The implication is that one should awaken and tremble.
Since these are the only three references to the metaphor of “waking up” in the Mishneh Torah, it is reasonable to assume that they are related and shed light on each other. The question is: How?
Shofar and death as wake-up calls are easier to understand than mezuzah. Shofar makes a loud noise, and loud noises wake up those who are asleep. Death as a wake-up call also makes sense when framed as an act of Divine “striking.” Mezuzah as a wake-up call is far less intuitive. What is the idea of a sign on a doorpost serving as a wake-up call? Additionally, shofar and death are characterized as wake-up calls to teshuvah, whereas mezuzah is described as a wake-up to the realization that nothing lasts forever except for knowledge of Hashem, which prompts a return to one’s mind and walking in the ways of uprightness.
I don’t have an explanation at the present time, but I wanted to state the question. I have a feeling that my personal focus on mindfulness, awareness, and “waking up” during these past few months may yield insight. For now, I will content myself in following my rebbi’s advice to simply “appreciate the question.”
______________________________
If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/
If you would like to sponsor an article, shiur, or podcast episode, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.com. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.
Be sure to check out my YouTube channel and my podcasts: "The Mishlei Podcast", "The Stoic Jew" Podcast, "Rambam Bekius" Podcast, "Machshavah Lab" Podcast, "The Tefilah Podcast" For the full guide to all of my Torah content, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment