Beautiful piece Yaacov. I love the vivid way you make your ideas come to life. Both answers you present here are powerful on the spiritual plane, but I find the most powerful answer the practical one: the longer you wait to do something, the less you feel like doing it (i.e. exercise, work etc.) The longer you put something off, the more of an annoyance and imposition it becomes in your mind. When you do something right away you don't give yourself the time to think of all the reasons you could be doing anything else. Waiting turns a mitzva from an opportunity into a chore.
Excellent essay with much food for thought, but as I've observed in the past you ponder beyond the simplicity of my mind and ability to grasp what seems obvious, at least to me. Why the rush to perform mitzvot? Primarily because we are mortal and do not know when our lives will end. We perform mitzvot in the minute when we can, because in the next minute we might not be alive to perform mitzvot, or illness or injury might make performance of mitzvot impossible. All else is commentary.
Beautifully written, as always! I agree that it would point to a better humanity if our thirst for Mitzvot was such that we built an alacrity to carry out God's Will as much as we have for 21st century gratification. It seems to me that alacrity must be balanced with an ability to be in the moment. To find the voice of God not in the earthquake, fire, or conflagration - but in the still small voice. We can race to fulfill God's Will, but we must not confuse it with a 21st century rush. It is a race rather, to the top of a hill. A race of noble effort, not sloth. A race with purpose, not materiality. כגבור לרוץ ארח. It is an alacrity of love, not an alacrity of self gratification. These are similar actions, but with a crucial distinction.
By the way, I'm worried that this "speed is good," idea might serve as a green light to the quick-daveners. There must be room for unhurried contemplation, in prayer and in thought, and in reading posts by Yaacov Lyons.
Yaakov, I'm not going to pay you extra just because you've given us a wonderful dvar Torah for Shabbat! :) Just keep it up. Please. Excellent, thought provoking writing.
Your writing is exquisite!
Thank you so much. I put alot of thought into it so its great to hear good feedback!
Beautiful piece Yaacov. I love the vivid way you make your ideas come to life. Both answers you present here are powerful on the spiritual plane, but I find the most powerful answer the practical one: the longer you wait to do something, the less you feel like doing it (i.e. exercise, work etc.) The longer you put something off, the more of an annoyance and imposition it becomes in your mind. When you do something right away you don't give yourself the time to think of all the reasons you could be doing anything else. Waiting turns a mitzva from an opportunity into a chore.
Excellent essay with much food for thought, but as I've observed in the past you ponder beyond the simplicity of my mind and ability to grasp what seems obvious, at least to me. Why the rush to perform mitzvot? Primarily because we are mortal and do not know when our lives will end. We perform mitzvot in the minute when we can, because in the next minute we might not be alive to perform mitzvot, or illness or injury might make performance of mitzvot impossible. All else is commentary.
Beautifully written, as always! I agree that it would point to a better humanity if our thirst for Mitzvot was such that we built an alacrity to carry out God's Will as much as we have for 21st century gratification. It seems to me that alacrity must be balanced with an ability to be in the moment. To find the voice of God not in the earthquake, fire, or conflagration - but in the still small voice. We can race to fulfill God's Will, but we must not confuse it with a 21st century rush. It is a race rather, to the top of a hill. A race of noble effort, not sloth. A race with purpose, not materiality. כגבור לרוץ ארח. It is an alacrity of love, not an alacrity of self gratification. These are similar actions, but with a crucial distinction.
Thank you. As always your additions are well taken!
" Let's be honest: how many of us could return to the tedious days of physical catalogues, A-Z guides, and handwritten letters?"
But it was so much easier to be lazy when doing things entailed work. Now, my laziness is just pathetic.
Don't forget the mitzvah habaah l'yadcha al tachmitzeha.
In a different vein, my rebbi, in a series on Mesillas Yesharim, translated זריזים מקדימים as "efficient people prioritize mitzvos."
By the way, I'm worried that this "speed is good," idea might serve as a green light to the quick-daveners. There must be room for unhurried contemplation, in prayer and in thought, and in reading posts by Yaacov Lyons.
Yaakov, I'm not going to pay you extra just because you've given us a wonderful dvar Torah for Shabbat! :) Just keep it up. Please. Excellent, thought provoking writing.
Thanks Ehud!
This is an interesting unpackaging, Yaakov. I watch much the practice of mitzvah, and often wonder 'why the great speed?!' This is helpful!