[Avodah] What Characterizes a Human Being as Eved HaShem?

Prof. Levine llevine at stevens.edu
Mon Feb 28 08:01:56 PST 2011


The following if from RSRH's commentary on Shemos 39: 43

Moshe saw the entire work and lo! they had 
accomplished it; as God had commanded, so had 
they done; and Moshe blessed them.

Second, ka'asher tziva HaShem kain asu , “as God had commanded, so had they
done.” Their zeal and enthusiasm had been subordinated completely —
both communally and individually — to the Divine command. There
had been no attempt on the part of any craftsman to bring his own
ideas and his own individuality to bear upon the work by making additions
or omissions. Rather, for each and every one of the craftsmen,
this was his greatest reward: to carry out God’s command and intention
with scrupulous care and precision.

This joy of duty eagerly fulfilled, this freedom in obedience and
obedience in freedom, is experienced precisely when one subordinates
himself entirely to God’s Will, which brings a sense of self-fulfillment
and unsurpassed joy. This is the distinguishing characteristic of the
highest moral perfection in the deeds of the Jewish person. This is what
characterizes a human being as Eved HaShem.
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