We must understand that every single prat, every single detail of Torah, is not merely a detail, but that each small action is part of a grand and vital chain going back to Sinai. In reality, there is no such thing as an unimportant detail, an unimportant mitzvah. Like on an assembly line, if one looks at and isolates one small part of the chain, one may think it is not significant, but when seen in the grand scope of building a machine, that detail, and the other small details, are essential if the machine is to operate properly. Similarly, every single mitzvah, big or small, is a vital part of the long spiritual chain and the perfecting of the soul of Klal Yisrael, both individually and collectively.
For example, if we don’t truly appreciate why we cannot remove the carrots from the peas on Shabbos if we don’t like carrots, we need to study hilchos borer and understand why this particular detail is vital to the entirety of what Shabbos is. The same is true for all halachos, whether or not we see them as small details.
Our goal, as observant Jews, is that with the performance of each mitzvah we form a deep and meaningful relationship with Hashem and earn an eternal reward and connection with Him.
As it says in Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh (Volume 1, os 42):
“The mitzvos are not unrelated entities, but rather, a roadmap, indicators as to how to achieve dveikus to the Creator. Chazal say, ‘Even the emptiest of the Jewish people are filled with mitzvos like a pomegranate’ (Berachos 57a).
“The obvious question is: why, then, are they called ‘empty’ if their mitzvos are as numerous as the seeds of a pomegranate? HaRav Dovid Povarsky, zt”l, gave a wonderful answer. He said that one might have many mitzvos to his credit: Torah, chesed, and many more. However, he may still be defined as empty. Why? Because a pomegranate has many seeds, but each one is distinct from the others. It is not like an apple or pear that is one unit. Rather, each seed stands alone.
“Similarly, a person can learn Torah and perform many mitzvos, but he will still be considered empty, because his deeds are separate from each other, with nothing unifying them. Torah and mitzvos must be performed as parts of one unit, not as disconnected acts. They must all participate in the building of one’s inner spiritual edifice. If he has not achieved that inner element that unites all his Torah and mitzvos, a person might learn Torah his entire life and fulfill many mitzvos, but still be among ‘the empty ones among them.’ What is that inner element? Dveikus to Hashem! If one is working to reach this goal, all the Torah he studies and all the mitzvos he performs will be interconnected, for they all will bring him to a common goal. But if Torah and mitzvos are not performed in a way that brings a person to this closeness, and there is nothing to unite them, they will remain disconnected from each other.”
This is how we see the forest through all the trees of Judaism.
And these are some of the happenings in this week’s haftarah.