Need a Push? - Parshat Tzav

I remember the first time I learned that even pro athletes receive motivational help. Even these people who were purportedly self-motivated enough to reach the highly competitive professional levels that they reached still felt that they needed professional motivators. How much more so, my friend Dr. Jerry Luchins explained to me, do we need this kind of assistance.

Even in the spiritual plane, where success is not measured by the number of home runs you hit but rather by the level of spirituality you attain, the Torah speaks in a different tone. Even in dealing with issues of mitzvos, it seems we may need help.

The weekly parsha, Parshat Tzav, starts with a commandment to perform the Burnt Offering, the Olah, "Command Aharon and his children, that this is the way to bring a 'burnt offering'."1 The usage in this verse of the verb "command" is unusual. Rarely is it used in passing on a commandment. It is so unusual, in fact, that Rashi finds a need to explore it further. He found a rabbinical source explaining that the Torah uses this verb when talking about specific commandments, those which require extra diligence where a loss of money is involved. Because the Kohen does not get to eat from this offering, it may be viewed by him as unworthy of his dilligence. After all, he will not get anything out of it as opposed to an Asham (sin offering) or a Shelamim (peace offering). Even when dealing with the most diligent of priests in the Temple, the Torah still finds a need to give them a little push.

How diligent are we in our actions? How much do we need outside help to push us forward? That always depends on the context -  what it is, how important it is to us, etc. But the important lesson here is that even when it is important to us, we may still need help. It shows that we are human. We cannot be perfect in everything we do. It just cannot happen.

Sometimes we have the ability and self-awareness to know that we need.  It is another thing entirely to call upon that part of ourselves which will bring about the change. Can we do it ourselves? Then 'kol hakavod!" Go for it! Do we have trouble doing it ourselves?  Then by all means get a push from someone. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

A friend or a professional can be that 'someone'. Sometimes it can be a chance encounter or even a post you saw. Be open to it. Let it happen. Sometimes we need that kick in the butt to get moving.

Our lives are worth living and worth living well.2 It is our responsibility to make that happen.

 Click here to read another logoParsha article on Parshat Tzav (Non-uniform Uniforms)

Notes

  1. Vayikra 6:2
  2. Everyone has a meaning to fulfill in their lives. Dr Viktor Frankl speaks about this in his book Man's Search for Meaning. We, therefore, should not allow ourselves to get in our own way.

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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