We all remember things from teachers that stayed with us the rest of our lives. While studying the Torah Portion this week, I was reminded of one such lesson that I learned twelve years ago.
It was during my years as a Yeshiva student. We were studying a particularly difficult and lengthy Chassidic Discourse. At one point in the text, the same idea seemed to keep repeating itself. I approached the Mashpia (the teacher of Chassidus) and asked why three pages were spent saying the very same thing. He looked at me, smiled, and gently said “When a Chassidic discourse seems to be repeating itself, it’s a sign that you are only studying it superficially. Learn it again, focus on the details, and you’ll notice the profound manner in which this idea gets developed over these three pages." Sure enough, after focusing a little more, I noticed all sorts of nuances in the wording. It wasn’t saying the very same thing after all…
And this lesson can be applied in so many areas of Jewish life.
"I just said these words of prayer yesterday.”
“Another seder?”
“Didn’t I hear this story before?”
When a prayer, mitzvah, or Torah idea begins to feel "old," it’s helpful to ask ourselves if we’ve properly focused on the details of that particular concept and thought about what it is means to us at that moment. A good prayer is one that is different from yesterday. Even though I am saying the same words, my thoughts and feelings, needs and requests, are different today. And taking a moment to pause, reflect, and focus on the details can bring new enthusiasm to any Mitzvah. Learning about the concept in greater depth--through books, lectures, mp3s (so many that can be downloaded straight from our website) also helps.
This message is highlighted in the Portion this week. The Torah, in great detail, dedicates more than eighty verses to tell us the offerings that each of the tribal leaders brought when the Tabernacle was dedicated. Yet, when looking at the gifts, one notices that each of the tribes actually brought the very same thing! Why didn't the Torah save space and just write about the gifts from one of the tribes, and then mention that the other tribes brought the exact same thing?
The Torah, however, wishes to point out this very lesson: Although each leader brought the same gift, they were truly different offerings! Each tribal leader brought it with a distinct flavor and intention. While the deed may have been the same, the thoughts and feelings were not.