The prophet Amos exhorts the people of Israel to, “Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream”, (5:24). The word מִשְׁפָּט is translated as justice and here it basically means ethics and standards derived from the principles and words of the Chumash. Righteousness is fundamentally making good decisions.
This is a common idea in the Tanakh. The twist here is that it is paired with a rebuke concerning the holidays, sacrifices, and public assemblies. This would include meals and refreshments in honor of a mitzvah, sermons, liturgical music and poetry. Generally speaking displays of religious devotion are being downplayed.
In the following verse the prophet asks, “Did you offer Me sacrifices and meal-offerings in the desert forty years, O house of Israel?” Rashi explains that this is a rhetorical question saying can dinners and gifts be G-d’s desire as He didn't ask for them in the desert. Also concerning the sacrifices the Chumash starts by saying, it is when the donor wants to bring them. The Malbim develops this idea saying that the children of Israel did not have much to bring while they were in the desert and their essential service was was in the realm of righteousness and standards. He then brings a quote praising Moshe rabenu for those characteristics.
It comes out that appearances, celebrations, and displays of devotion are significant but of secondary importance. Of primary importance is to have standards rooted in religion and to make good decisions based on them. This is like the Yom Kippur kaftan confession about being like a servant who rebels against his master or a student who is quarrelsome towards his teacher. Specifically that he is meticulous about things that are insignificant and treats with insignificance things that are important.
The prophet seems to be noting that the student who does not know the material may be the loudest in the beis midrash. Or the person gesticulating like a maniac during services may have no idea of the meaning of the prayers. Even worse the person who is strict about small details of a mitzvah may in fact be violating the mitzvah itself and perhaps may not be much of a believer. If a person’s beard is too scraggly, clothes too disheveled, or behavior too strange, it may be a sign of a serious problem.
A religious Jew should take pride and pleasure about looking like a religious Jew. Also even if one does not feel so religious, it's appropriate to do go to shul, study, and to participate in the holidays and celebrations, and hopefully the externals will capture the heart and the mind. However it is important not to fall into the trap of thinking that appearances are a substitute for proper performance and belief. What the prophet Amos is teaching is that a person’s main goal is to develop standards based on G-d’s will and live according to them. What parshas B’chukosai is teaching is that if we sincerely follow the precepts in the Torah we will be blessed with financial prosperity, peace in the land, and the presence of G-d in our midst.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
העלון ניתן לקבל בדואר אלקטרוני וגם באתר http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com
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