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THE WORK OF HEAVEN

The Talmud records for us that Rabi Yishmael met Rabbi Meir, who was one of the great disciples of Rabi Akiva. He asked Rabi Meir: “My son, what type of work do you do?” Rabi Meir responded by saying “I am a scribe.” To which the great Rabi Yishmael responded: “My son, do your work carefully and diligently, for your work is the work of Heaven!”

The simple explanation of Rabi Yishmael’s comment is that a scribe must be very careful while writing the scroll of the Torah or the scrolls for tefilin and mezuzot, for making a mistake in writing any of those items will perforce invalidate their use. Even a fly alighting on the wet ink and smudging the letter will invalidate it.

But on a deeper level, Rabi Yishmael was telling not only Rabi Meir but all of us as well, that everything that we do in life requires care and attention – all work and behavior of a Jew on this earth is judged through the prism of advancing the work of Heaven. That is the criterion to which we are held to – does our action and behavior in all of our walks of life advance the work of Heaven or unfortunately retard or nullify it.

Judaism places great emphasis on the seemingly small and mundane activities of life. Everything in life is included in the category called “the work of Heaven.” As a consequence of this, it is obvious that everything and everyone has importance and requires attention and diligence.

In the Torah portions of these weeks the Torah describes for us ‘negaim’ – types of spiritual plagues that had physical manifestations that rendered an uncleanliness to arise. The Torah describes for us in great detail these types of ‘negaim.’ They came in three areas of a person’s life. Firstly, in one’s own body and person. Then in the structure of one’s house. And finally, in the clothing that one wore.

Although the underlying explanations and root causes of ‘negaim’ have remained mysterious to us, even after the comments and explanations of the Talmud and the great rabbinic commentators of all of the ages are factored in, the obvious lesson here is that these three areas of life one’are the crucial points of danger in life. They are the areas most susceptible to ‘negaim’ – to spiritual and behavioral plagues that negate our other good deeds and darken our lives.

Personal behavior and good self-image are the keys to a Torah personality. Wisdom, patience, tolerance and a great deal of love are necessary to build a good family relationship and to bind the generations together in harmony and mutual respect. Our public persona, what others think of us defines us as well. The rabbis of the Talmud always emphasized: “What do the other creatures of God have to say about this person?” He who is beloved and respected by one’s fellow humans is also accorded that treatment by Heaven.

So how is the war against ‘negaim’ to be successfully conducted? By realizing that all that we do is truly the work of Heaven. Only then can we also begin to realize the great potential for good that lies within each and every one of us.

Rabi Yisrael Salanter explained that the great righteousness and holiness of Chanoch lay in the fact that the Talmud records for us that he was a shoemaker and that with every stitch that he made while creating shoes “he sang God’s praises.”

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter explained that the Talmud does not mean that he recited psalms or hymns of praise to God while he made shoes. It means that he made good shoes, that every stitch was perfect, that he gave his customers excellent quality for their money. He said someone who does that sings God’s praises for by so doing he advances the work of Heaven on this earth.

What people think as being their business or profession or work and not more than that is really the work of Heaven if they so will it to be. Therefore care and quality must be exercised in all areas of our life – in our personal behavior and psychological outlook, in our homes and families and in our dealings with the outside world. Only this attitude of care and concern, quality and wise considerations, can help us truly advance the work of Heaven.

Shabat shalom.

Berel Wein