Friday, October 30, 2009

Strings and Straps

When Avraham Avinu flatly refuses any of the spoils of war offered him by the king of Sedom - he states - "I will take not a string nor a shoe strap".
Chazal comment that this action earned Avraham's descendants the string of techeles and the straps of teffilin.
Avraham Avinu was a paragon of Chessed - and as a direct result, we - his children - are tremendously inclined towards kindness ( so much so that a lack in this regard calls one's Jewish roots into question ). However we may along the way need reminders to stave off the ever present human selfishness that screams in our hearts - "what's in it for me?!".
So Hashem gives us two mitzvos that are referred to as signs or memory aides. The strings of techeles ( "... and you shall see them and you shall remember all the mitzvos of Hashem ...") and the straps of teffilin ("... and it will be a sign against your heart ...").

So next time we feel the ever present pull of greed - remember - we're above that - we are the children of Avraham. Besides - both Mitzvos represent ways to bind yourself to Hashem - would you really want some petty materialistic thing to get in the way ?

Hatzlacha !!

1 comment:

Miriam the Mommy said...

This is really beautiful. :)