What is the point of arguing with a Jew?
Every Jew has a mitzvah with which he feels an affinity, that he or she is just waiting to do.
Find that mitzvah and assist them with it.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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Rachel
FL
February 9, 2014
To Sol
My feeling is that your are being respectful of the name, even though it is not one of Hashem's 72 names in Hebrew, the holy tongue, because you like many others perceive it to be.
You may want to ask a rabbit about the proper way of disposing of it if you no longer wish to keep it. Perhaps a mitzvah that relates to this is helping others purchase the kosher scrolls of the mezuzahs to place on the doorposts of their homes might be something you'd find you enjoy doing as your "Mitzvah".
May Hashem bless you and help you find answers to your questions.
Rachel
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Anonymous
February 9, 2014
Great! This is great, thanks for posting it! Reply
Yisroel
Winsted, CT
via chabadnw.org
June 2, 2008
personal mitzvah
Wearing the tzizits moves something in me. Somehow, when I put them on and pull them out where I can see them, I feel, I don't know; comfort?, connected?, joy?.
I once always wore them tucked in, but when I started wearing them out something special moved in my heart. Perhaps some will think this silly, and still others that this is merely common knowledge; but I now cannot imagine wearing them tucked away as I used to. No other mitzvot do the same for me. They stir my soul and help me remember why I am here. They balance me. Perhaps this is that personal affinity of which the Rebbe speaks. I only know how they make me feel personally.
His words ring with such truth!
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mike ibeabuchi
Lagos, Nigeria
June 2, 2008
everyone a mitzvah
I am not a Jew and don't speak or read Hebrew, although I would love to do both.
I am a Christian who loves to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I trust you understand this. I am learning to understand Judaism. What does Mitzvahs mean?
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Sol
June 2, 2008
Personal mitzvos
When I was six years old, I wrote a note to the teacher who had given a test on Yom Kippur and anyone who was absent got a zero. I was outraged and wanted her to know that she had done wrong. But after writing the note, I decided it would not work, that nothing would serve to enable her to know she was wrong. So I was ready to discard the note.
I had never heard the Ten Commandments. But I could not discard that note. I tried to preserve it and unfortunately I eventually lost it. Why? Because it had the capital letter G, followed by the lower case letters od. I felt unable to throw away a piece of paper with that Name on it.
How did I know to be bothered? Most people, even knowing the Ten Commandments, scoff at such pickiness. But I seem to have been born knowing. Keeping this mitzvah has always been important to me, more than all the other mitzvos. Why? Did I violate it in a previous life? Or is there another reason for having an affinity for one mitzvah?
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Jew who I listen to Jewish concepts and I try to interpret this wisdom into my own life. Thanks to the orthodox rabbi who exercises compassion and understanding, so he says, the bible and torah are the word of god written by the hand of god. OK, I say, if you says so, but I think scholars transcribe the words and may even change the words from one transcription to the next. The original is inside the ark. The rabbi says, may god help you. I say, shalom selah! Flash him the peace sign.