Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Ahareh Mot- Feeling Hashem’s Presence

** Dedicated by Steven Levy & Chaby Orfali and Families In Loving Memory of Eliyahu Ben Sinbol **


Introducing the section of Arayot (forbidden intimate relations), G-d exhorts us in Parashat Ahareh-Mot, "You shall perform My laws and observe My statutes, to follow them; I am Hashem your G-d" (18:4).

The Or Ha’haim Ha’kadosh (Rav Haim Ben-Attar, 1696-1743) offers a unique interpretation of this verse, drawing upon a Kabbalistic teaching of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yohai in the Zohar (vol. 1, 170b). Rabbi Shimon explained that each of the 248 Misvot Aseh (affirmative commands) corresponds to one of the body’s 248 limbs, and every time a person fulfills a Misva, the Shechina (divine presence) rests upon the corresponding limb. This is indicated by the very word "Misva," which alludes to the divine Name of "Havaya" (the Name spelled "Yod," "Heh," "Vav" and "Heh"). The word "Misva" is spelled "Mem," "Sadi," "Vav," "Heh," and thus the last two letters ("Vav" and "Heh") are the same as the last two letters of the Name of "Havaya." The first two letters of "Misva" ("Mem" and "Sadi") correspond to the letters "Yod" and "Heh," respectively, through the "Atbash" system, whereby each letter is associated with the corresponding letter at the opposite end of the alphabet. (Meaning, the first letter, "Alef," is linked to the last letter, "Tav"; the second letter, "Bet," is connected to the second-to-last letter, "Shin"; and so on.) It thus emerges that the word "Misva" represents the Name of G-d, with half of the name appearing outwardly ("Vav" and "Heh"), and the other half ("Mem" and "Sadi") concealed, alluded to subtly through the system of "Atbash." Rabbi Shimon explains that each Misva brings the divine presence upon a part of our bodies, and so the word "Misva" is, in a sense, spelled exactly the same as the Name of G-d, because each Misva brings Hashem close to us.

On this basis, the Or Ha’haim suggests explaining the verse in Parashat Ahareh-Mot. G-d here urges us to "perform My laws and observe My statutes" – to fulfill the Misvot, "La’lechet Bahem Ani Hashem Elokechem" – so that He will "walk with them," meaning, rest upon us through our fulfillment of the Misvot. Every time we perform a Misva, G-d draws near, and so He exhorts us to fulfill the Misvot "La’lechet Bahem" – in order that He will "walk" with us and accompany us everywhere we go.

We all want to feel Hashem’s presence and His blessing in our lives. But this is not as difficult as it might seem. The way to bring Hashem into our everyday life is simply to perform the Misvot, to obey His commands, and to constantly look for and seize more Misva opportunities. There are always more Misvot we can perform, and with each one, we bring Hashem closer and strengthen our relationship with Him.


Related Parasha
Parashat Ahare Mot- Planting Our Spiritual Trees - 2023 Year
Kedoshim- The Reward for Honoring Parents - 2022 Year
Shevi'i Shel Pesah- Achieving True Freedom - 2022 Year
Pesah: Remembering the Root Cause of the Egyptian Exile - 2022 Year
Parashat Ahare Mot/Kedoshim: Keeping Hashem’s Presence Among Us - 2021 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: Complementing One Another - 2020 Year
Parashat Kedoshim- Understanding the Three Years of Orla - 2019 Year
The Hafetz Haim’s Theory of Relativity - 2019 Year
The “Intoxication” of the Seder - 2019 Year
Kedoshim: Kedusha – A Group Effort - 2018 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: The Right Way to Criticize - 2017 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: Modern-Day Idolatry - 2016 Year
Parashat Ahareh-Mot: The Impact of Our Actions - 2016 Year
Pesah: G-d’s Promise at the Shores of the Yam Suf - 2016 Year
Pesah- Reward for a Kiddush Hashem - 2016 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: Giving Criticism - 2015 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: What Does “Holy” Mean? - 2014 Year
Parashat Ahare Mot- The Lesson of the White and Gold Garments - 2014 Year
Parashat Kedoshim: Paying Workers on Time - 2013 Year
Parashat Kedoshim- Parenting and Holiness - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Pesah - 2011 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat BeShalah: G-d Will Pay You Will Back
Parashat Bo: The Lesson of the Moon
Parashat VaEra: Making Exile Intolerable
Parashat Shemot: We Cannot Outsmart G-d
Parashat VaYehi- True Kindness
Parashat VaYigash: The Ultimate Rebuke
Parashat Miketz: Cause and Effect
Parashat Vayesheb: “Don’t Bother Me With the Facts”
Parashat VaYishlah: Yaakov Abinu and the Power of Torah
Parashat VaYeseh: The Lesson of Yaakob’s Prayer
Parashat Toledot: The Long-Term Effects of Negative Influences
Parashat Hayeh Sara: It Doesn’t Stop
Parashat Lech-Lecha: Sincerity
Parashat Noah: The Rainbow’s Message
Ellul: Teshuba Can’t Wait
1002 Parashot found