The Bechukosai Balance: Where Torah Meets Your Truth
My recent post on Yom HaAtzmaut1 has garnered a lot of feedback and seems to have resonated with many people. One central theme in the feedback is that the path of Torah Jews has modernized and evolved. In other words, there is a new type of Jew emerging. We are not on the well-worn path, but we are still on a path—albeit a new one that we are forging ourselves, perhaps without even realizing it.
The struggle I presented stems from a need to identify with one way or another, when, in fact, that isn't necessary. There is a new category of Jew emerging—those who have studied in yeshivas and whose default lifestyle, hashkafic, and halachic structure leans to the right. These individuals are open-minded but comfortable on either side, often feeling confused and disconnected.
We strive to learn Torah and follow Judaism while valuing being informed and knowledgeable about the world. We are figuring out our place in religion, experiencing good and bad days, and trying to make it work. Some of us are comfortable on the paths of old, while others are blazing forward, but some are in the middle, navigating this awkward space. We appreciate our comfort zones yet strive to move forward. This journey isn't easy, but it's ours, and we are determined to find our way.
Instead of feeling uncomfortable, we should accept who we are. We don't need to be uneasy with those on different paths. Instead, we should be proud of our clarity and respectful and happy for those whose reality is shaped differently and who are taking different paths.
Reading my father's book, Sefiros, the other day (Day 37) struck a chord with me. He writes that we often look to our surroundings to define what's normal, but what if we decided for ourselves what is right and wrong, and how we want to live? What if we spoke our truth? This idea of beginning a new way of life based on truth resonates deeply with me.
This idea is spelled out in Parashas Bechukosai. The Torah tells us that if we walk in Hashem's ways, we will have abundant blessings. If we do not, and things happen by chance (Keri), it will be rather miserable.
Rav Moshe Dovid Vali explains that the Torah teaches us that those who follow its paths and commandments are guided and protected. If they stray from these paths, they will encounter obstacles and darkness, even without intending to rebel. This guidance is akin to walking on a dark path with a lamp to light the way, ensuring safety and preventing stumbling. The Torah and mitzvos are compared to a lamp and light, illuminating the path for those who follow them.
Rashi famously explains that "Bechukosai" means the Torah needs to be engraved within us, and we have to work hard for it. When we embrace the parameters of the Torah to guide our lives, we fulfill the dictum of Bechukosai and live within its realm.
There are many paths one can take to understanding Torah. Chazal tell us that there are seventy different approaches. Whichever path we choose within the parameters of the Torah, the chukim, is valid. We must consider how we want to live our lives as Torah Jews. Many look to their teachers and mentors for guidance, but they can only show us the way. The point is to develop a relationship with Hashem, not to stop with the teacher or idolize him, thereby forgetting about Hashem.
Walking in the ways of Torah is fascinating because there are so many ways to understand the law—there is no one path. With seventy ways to understand Torah, we must choose and mold our path, guided by our understanding of Torah. It doesn't have to be the well-forged path taken by the masses; it can be the path of the outlier.
Living our lives by rote, feeling confused and conflicted without a clear path, means doing things B’Keri, by chance. If we want blessings in our lives, and who doesn't, then we need to get on a path.
Ultimately, it's about embracing those in-between moments and recognizing that they are where true growth happens. It's about having the courage to be yourself, even when it feels uncertain or uncomfortable. By living authentically and confidently, you'll find that the struggle isn't about finding yourself—it's about becoming more of who you already are. Embrace the journey, cherish the process, and remember that it's in these everyday moments where you define your path and create a life that resonates with your true self. This is where you speak your truth.
This determination to forge ahead on the right path takes time and is a gradual process until we settle into our true selves and path. To move forward on this path and mark it as such, we need to be more confident and courageous about it. Life unfolds in the in-between stages. These stages shape who we are. We just have to live our lives instead of being stuck in the misery of feeling stuck.
This is where we truly live the essence of Bechukosai, transforming our everyday moments into steps towards a life of harmony and self-discovery within the realm of Torah and halacha.
