In the age of automation and robotics productivity has skyrocketed. Way more can get done in a fraction of the time — truly remarkable — if results are the focus, that is.
Life is about experience. The act of doing is transformative. The effort one expends creates waves far beyond the result — both for the doer and the recipient.
One can well understand that handwriting a personal card to a dear one on a special occasion is an experience that both can’t be replicated and has a plethora of benefits for the doer way beyond words on a paper - and the list goes on.
In this week’s Parsha we see the leaders of the 12 tribes stepping up with gifts to the Holy Temple on initiation day. They had missed out on meaningfully contributing to the construction of the Temple — legitimately thinking they would see what was needed at the end, at which point they would fill the void.
This may have been a well intentioned strategy except — there was no void, leaving them bereft of the opportunity to be a significant part of it. The result was achieved but their experience was incomplete.
It takes a mind shift and discernment. The recognition that it’s not about the end it’s about the personal care and attention that accompanies and ultimately benefits the doer — yet greater than the receiver.
All Mitzvas can be seen in this light. Less of a burden and more of an opportunity. Less about it getting done and more about the experience of dedicating our blessings, talents, time and effort towards creating a deeper bond with the Almighty and towards making the world a more goodly and Gdly place. A benefit for the doer if you will.
Do we want it to get done or do we want to be the ones doing it? Ultimately that’s in each of our hands!!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor