Feature Tidbit
for Parshat VaYeishev

It's Like Checking your Mezuza

It is well known - whether one "believes" in it or not - that people check their Mezuzot after something bad happens. There are many stories of defects being found in a Mezuza - sometimes the particular p'sul even relates to the specific tragedy which prompted the Mezuza check.
But that's not the topic of this piece. It's just the springboard. We have not had any significant rainfall yet this season. For two weeks or so, many shuls and individuals have been adding the prayer for ATZIRAT G'SHAMIM in the weekday Amida. It is long overdue that we each as individuals and we all as a community do someserious checking of a lot more than our Mezuzot.

Twice daily we say the Sh'ma. The second passage states clearly that if we listen to G-d's Mitzvot and do them... then He will give us boutiful rainfall in its time. If we become unfaithful to G-d, then He will hold back the heavens and there won't be rain, and the earth will not provide its yield, and we will be lost...

This is not the only statement of G-d's conditions for blessing us. The connection between our performance of Mitzvot, our faithfulness in our relationship with G-d and His Divine protection for us against our enemies, His blessings for us, our families, our livelihood, the continued existence of His People in the Landof Israel. It's a deal. And we do not always live up to our side of the deal. So let's check our Mitzvot.

Let's start with davening. Not because it is the most important, but because it is directly to the point. Is our davening just lip service, or is it Avoda She'balev, service of the heart? When we say that G-d is the Weather Maker, do we mean it? Do we say the words so devoutly that G-d will "sit up and take notice", so to speak. And when we ask for rain, do we really, really want it? And when we ask for forgiveness and the Ingathering of the Exiles and for G-d to return and rebuild Yerushalayim and the restoration of the Beit HaMikdash and its service? And when we ask for peace? Do we really mean it? Do we really want it?

And let's not just check davening and brachot. What about Shabbat and Chagim and Tzedaka and G'milut Chasadim? And what about all the prohibitions? Are we careful about Lashon Ha'Ra and embarrassing others? And what's our attitude towards others with different religious standards or lack thereof?

There is no easy way about this. We've got to take serious inventory and then come up with a workable plan for improving overselves and our society. We have to spread the message of Torah and Eretz Yisrael among ourselves and to our fellow Jews, wherever they are and on what ever level they, or we, are on.

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