Hashkafa
Question
Kavod HaTorah! It seems like the Hashkafa of this site is that one should "simplify" and improve their life by observing the mitzvot without adding all of the chumrot. A lot of the people that I deal with (both FFB's and Baalei teshuva) are searching for more meaning in their Yiddishkiet than the simple rituals that the mitzvot represent to them. For a lot of them it seems like prayer and learning Torah are an obligation (that they normally detest, or at least have no connection to), rather than an oppurtunity to G-d. (I am finally getting to my question:) Do you suggest that it is better for a Jew to continue to do the mitzvot, even though he detests doing it (Tfillin, saying Shema on time, etc), or should a Jew focus on the few mitzvot that he/she can connect to and build from there? Thanks for your help!
Answer
Answered by Chaim Yisrael AbadiI'm uncomfortable with the word "detest". Maybe the way they are learning or the places they are davening or .... are not to their liking and so they subconsciously "detest" them. Maybe they should go to a Gateways or Discovery Seminar and learn about the z'chus we have to be Jews and to Daven and do Mitzvos. Maybe they are just trying to do the Mitzvos according to every chumra available and it is too burdensome (then I feel their pain). Being Frum is not supposed to be the right to choose which Mitzva you are comfortable with and just do those. That choice was taken by the Conservative and Reform. If some Mitzvos are hard, I will quote from Rav Nissim Yagen ZT"L "Yahadut, zeh lo kisei noach" "Judaism, is not an easy chair (recliner)" In short there is an education that these people need. It seems from your post that you are in the position to give them one. Hatzlacha Rabba. It is not an easy job, but it is rewarding job. CYA