The Not So New and Improved Covenant
G-d has given us three keys to unlock His love for us and our love for Him. They are Torah-Mitzvos, Teshuvah and Prayer
THE NOT SO NEW AND IMPROVED
COVENANT
Why a New Covenant?
After the Jewish nation is chastised for creating and worshipping the Golden Calf, G-d declares to Moses: “Behold I will make a covenant…” With these words, G-d made a covenant with the Jewish people as His way of promising to maintain a special relationship with them.
The question is asked, why was a covenant necessary? Wouldn’t G-d’s word suffice? And if a covenant was indeed necessary, didn’t G-d already make a covenant with Abraham? Why was an additional covenant necessary?
In Biblical times, a covenant involved taking something and cutting it in half. The two parties to the covenant then walk through the two halves as a way of affirming that their relationship is akin to two halves of one whole. Thus, when G-d made a covenant with Abraham He was affirming the organic relationship that would exist between G-d and Abraham’s descendants—the Jewish people.
Two Kinds of Covenants
However, there are two forms of covenants. There is a covenant that involves certain commitments on the part of both parties to the covenant. When one of the parties does not live up to those commitments, the covenant is thus terminated.
This conditional covenant was seriously challenged when the Jewish people worshipped the Golden Calf. That flagrant demonstration of infidelity sufficed to sever the ties that were instituted at the covenant in the days of Abraham and reinforced at Mount Sinai.
Now, G-d introduced a new covenant, one that would indicate that G-d and Israel were indeed inseparable. Even after sinning, their connection to G-d would remain intact. Nothing could separate them from G-d.
Half-Shekel for a Whole Relationship
This also explains why the Jews were told to contribute a half-shekel after they worshipped the golden calf. It was G-d’s way of stating that He and they were still two halves of one whole. “A Jew,” the Talmud states, “even if he sins is still a Jew.”
Why Bother?
But, at this point the next question begs to be asked. If we enjoy this close and organic relationship with G-d even if we flout His commandments, why bother?
What is the point of a Jew observing the commandments, if G-d’s covenant and love extends even to those who do not observe them?
There are two ways of answering this question.
First, when a child knows that his parent will accept him or her even if he or she does not obey their wishes, would a sensible and loving child want to hurt his parents? Precisely because we know how much they love us—to the point that even if we disobey them they will never reject us—that knowledge itself impels the child to do everything to make his or her parent happy.
Three keys to Unlocking G-d’s Love
Second, while it is true that G-d’s love for us is so great that it transcends our faithfulness to Him, yet, this love can be concealed. What is necessary to help us reveal this powerful love? The answer is: the study of Torah and the observance of its commandments. Thus, when a Jew does not fulfill them, the essential and unconditional love that G-d has for us will remain dormant.
The observance of the Mitzvot is the key to unlock that hidden love.
Another key to the unlocking of G-d’s essential and hidden love for us is Teshuvah, true and sincere repentance and return to G-d’s ways.
A third key to revealing this love is through prayer and invocation of the Thirteen Divine Attributes of Mercy as Moses did in the aftermath of the Golden-Calf debacle.
Mitzvah observance connects us to G-d’s will, the source of the commandments.
Teshuvah, connects us to G-d, the Master of His will, who wills the commandments. One can faithfully execute the will of another and not be connected to the other. Teshuvah cements our relationship with G-d Himself.
And the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy connect us to the aspect of G-d which transcends even the parameters of His will and His role as the Master of Will.
The Rusty Keys of Galus
But as long as we are in Galus-exile, all of our efforts at revealing this essential bond cannot be fully successful. Our Mitzvah observance at its best is lacking because of exile conditions; our Teshuvah and prayer lacks intensity because of exile’s effect of clouding and occluding our emotions.
One of the major accomplishments of the Messianic Age will be the full exposure of the essential bond that exists between G-d and us. To facilitate that process, we must incorporate all three keys: observance of Mitzvos, Teshuvah and prayer.
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Ki Sisa by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
