Kiss the Mezuzah and Wear Your Tefillin Proud
To be respected one must do things that are intrinsically worthy of other’s admiration. Objective worth must also be complemented by subjective integrity and love. These two elements are reflected in the Mitzvah of Mezuzah and Tefillin.
KISS THE MEZUZAH AND WEAR YOUR
TEFILLIN PROUD
The Presidential Election and the Mezuzah
The entire country, if not the world, was treated to a unique spectacle the last few days. Senator Joseph Lieberman was selected as a vice-presidential candidate. Incredibly, much of the focus of the country is on his commitment to the observance of the Mitzvos. Of the many commandments that could have been highlighted, it is interesting that the TV cameras portrayed his kissing of the Mezuzah when he left his house.
The Ba’al Shem Tov taught us that everything that happens is directed by Divine Providence. The fact that this powerful image was broadcast around the world in the week that we are first introduced to the Mitzvah of Mezuzah in the weekly Parsha is certainly no coincidence. By virtue of this week’s Torah reading and its coinciding with the image of a vice-presidential candidate kissing a Mezuzah, we are all asked to focus our attention on this very fundamental Mitzvah.
Why Kiss the Mezuzah
But, as important as the Mitzvah itself is, what was highlighted was not the performance of the mitzvah, per se, but rather the act of kissing the Mezuzah. Despite the fact that Jewish law does not require kissing the Mezuzah when one leaves or enters one’s home, it is a custom to do so as a way of showing our affection for the Mitzvah that G-d has given us.
There are some who suggest that the source for this custom is a narrative recorded in the Talmud (Tractate Avodah Zarah 11)
The Roman Emperor’s nephew, Onkelus, converted to Judaism. Every time the Emperor sent soldiers to apprehend him, they too converted to Judaism because they were so impressed with Onkelus’ arguments for the truth and beauty of Judaism. Finally the Emperor ordered his next group of soldiers to not dialogue whatsoever with him. When they apprehended him and escorted him out of his house, he kissed the Mezuzah and laughed. The soldiers were puzzled by this behavior and they asked him to explain his action.
Onkelus replied:
“The custom of the world is that a king sits inside and his servants stand guard outside. The Holy One Blessed is He, by contrast, allows his servants to sit inside while He guards them on the outside (as represented by the Mezuzah). It is thus written “G-d will guard your goings out and comings in.” Upon hearing this they too converted to Judaism.”
It is noteworthy that despite the fact that Onkeles had a Mezuzah on his doorpost within clear sight of the soldiers, it was the act of kissing the Mezuzah that caught their attention and has now captured the attention of the mass media in our own day and age.
Loving the Mitzvah
A powerful lesson can be derived from this. As important as it is to fulfill G-d’s commandments there is a need to show how precious they are to us. We must show that we fulfill them not merely out of habit or out of obedience but out of love and with joy.
This explains Onkelus’ response to the
soldiers, when he referred to the Mezuzah as an expression of G-d watching His servants who remain inside the house. The fact that G-d watches over us is His way of showing us love. Our way of reciprocating G-d’s outpouring of love for us, is by treating His commandments not only with respect, but also with affection.
Memories
There have been incidents where Jews have returned to Judaism, because of memories of their mother having them kiss the Mezuzah before going to sleep. The love for this Mitzvah of Mezuzah in particular has the capacity to awaken the hidden love that we all possess, just as it had the capacity to inspire even the pagan soldiers of the wicked Empower of Rome in those days, and to generate respect for Judaism and the Jewish people in our own day and age.
Jewish Pride Generates Respect of Nations
Our Sages tell us that in the Messianic Age, the nations of the world will all recognize the special relationship G-d has for the Jewish people. As a result, all nations will join the Jewish people in worshipping the one G-d.
(This does not mean that all people will convert to Judaism. It means that all people will recognize the authority of the one G-d and serve Him in accordance with the seven Noahide laws that were given to all of humankind.)
One of the ways that we prepare for the coming of Moshiach, is to be proud of our Jewish observances and openly show the love we have for them. This goes a long way in generating respect and affection for the Jewish people and will hasten the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecy that “all nations will serve G-d with one consent.”
Tefillin and Mezuzah: Common Denominator
One may raise the question that there is another Mitzvah that generates respect of the nations for the Jewish people; it is the Mitzvah of Tefillin.
Concerning this Mitzvah the Torah states:
“And the nations of the world will see the name of G-d called upon you and they will fear you.”
The Talmud quotes Rabbi Eliezer who says that this refers to the Mitzvah of Tefillin, specifically the Head Tefillin.
The word fear in this context can also be rendered as respect.
So we have two Mitzvos that generate respect for the Jewish people: Mezuzah and Tefillin.
Tefillin and Mezuzah: Common Denominator
A simple and obvious difference is that the Mezuzah itself did not, in and of itself, generate respect; it was his love and affection that he displayed towards the Mezuzah that caused the positive reaction of the soldiers who witnessed it. Tefillin themselves have the capacity to invoke fear and respect of those who see a Jew wearing his Tefillin.
On a deeper level, the Mezuzah is placed on the doorposts of one’s home, whereas the Tefillin are worn on one’s body.
A house surrounds the person and creates a positive and holy atmosphere for all those who reside in the house. Tefillin are actually worn, indeed, tied to our bodies.
This reflects the difference between these two
Mitzvos: The Mezuzah provides us with peripheral energy while the Tefillin penetrate into our inner being. The former will generate respect when they see the way we treat the Mezuzah while the latter will be inspired just by looking at the person who has internalized the Tefillin’s sanctity.
Tefillin, particularly, the Head Tefillin, are the ultimate symbol of royalty. The non-Jew who sees this cannot help but to be overcome with fear or respect.
Tefillin (and Mezuzah) are thus a very powerful way of preparing for the future Messianic Age, when the nations of the world cherish their relationship with the one G-d and the One nation on Earth!
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Voeschanan by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
