Parsha

The Ohr Hachaim challenges us with two deep questions regarding this verse:

• Why does the Torah say “any of these things” rather than “any one of these things”?
• Did every non-Jew truly defile themselves in every possible way?

The Ohr Hachaim explains that the omission of the word “one” teaches us to equate all transgressions. While punishments for specific sins vary, all transgressions are equal in that they turn us away from Hashem. Every sin carries the potential to become a slippery slope, leading us toward transgressing the entire Torah.

Just as we do not know the exact "reward" for each Mitzvah, we do not know the exact "punishment" for each sin. We are kept in the dark so that every Mitzvah remains equally vital in our eyes. If we knew the specific "payoff" of each Mitzvah, we would likely cherry-pick the ones that benefit us most and neglect the rest.

Make Change a Constant Habit

“One good deed will bring another... one transgression will bring another” (Pirkei Avos 4:2). This principle of Mitzvah Goreret Mitzvah works through two distinct channels:

• Inspiration: When our actions are witnessed by others, they are inspired to follow in our footsteps.
• Habit: When we perform a Mitzvah regularly, it becomes an integral part of who we are.

No matter how daunting the task or how much there is to overcome, Hashem provides the strength if we simply take the first step. It takes only one move in the right direction to create the momentum that carries us forward.

New Online Audio Library

A big thank you to our webmaster R’ Yitzchok Langevitz for posting our latest shiurim, and a very special thank you to R’ Marty Nashofer who collected and organized this set!

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