Embracing The Truth

Devarim 30:11-14, “For this Mitzvah I command you today is not covered or hidden from you, and it is not far. It is not in the heavens, to say, who will go up there and take it so we shall hear and do it. And it is not over the oceans to say who will cross over to take it and we’ll listen to it and do it. For it is very close to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart to do it.” 

Our mouths and hearts are interconnected, we say what we mean and we mean what we say. When we see somebody saying what he doesn’t truly we believe we can feel it out right away. Sometimes we can hear a lecturer speak passionately about a certain topic but he’d lose credibility when we see him struggling with this particular subject himself. We can give them grace and tell ourselves that they are humans just like us, but the Gemara tells us in many instances, “First take care of yourself and then take care of others.

When we speak we should be properly weighed and measured with our words. If we speak about things that are difficult for us to accomplish we should include ourselves in the conversation rather than being from the outside looking down at the crowd. We are people with hearts and desires and when we are able to accept the facts of our life we can start speaking about them with conviction. When we have certain experiences that have taught us lessons in life we can now go about walking about them and help others who are in similar situations, but when we are still in the rut we should approach the others and seek guidance from their ideas through their personal lens. 

Speaking is the easiest thing after sight. The Mishnah states, “The eyes see, the heart desires and the body translates into action.” Our hearts interpret our visions into understandings, and the more we look at good things and the more our eyes seek holiness the more the heart will purify itself. Speaking on the other hand is describing the beliefs of the heart. Before we speak we need to make sure that what we are saying is true and weighed. If we’ve seen something that isn’t appropriate, even if we learnt a good lesson that may help others in their life, when we speak we still have to make sure that the story we tell or the joke we give over is said in an appropriate way. Much like when we deal with relationships we cannot say everything that is on our mind even if we feel strongly about it, we have to learn where and when to say it. 

The heart and the mouth have a very strong connection. The heart can be hard as teeth, and a smile can be soft as a loving heart. The dynamic of this relationship teaches us how to be proper orators of truth. Our smile and frown are direct connections between the heart and the mouth and when we speak the truth, no matter if it hurts, it will be accepted. Sometimes it may take a while until the other party understands that you meant it for their good, but as long as you stick to honesty it will eventually land in the right place.

This Mitzvah that we have, this Torah that we are connected to, is not far away or hidden, it is the nature of the human being. Hashem created us with the intrinsic values of truth, He knows what is good for us and He understands what we must do to have a good life. It is not in heaven that you will find your answer or the knowledge to progress, since up there, there are no bodies with your nature. The Yeshiva Shel Maalah don’t have jurisdiction over our rules since they do not understand the intricacies of our mortal lives. When Moshe went up to heaven, in Shabbos 89a, he told the angels, “Do you have a father and mother to honor, do you have friends to love and hate?” We have those abilities and it is upon us to seek ways to do them.

It is not about climbing the mountain to reach the pinnacle with its glorious view, it is right here right now just as your heart and your mouth. Just as your mouth speaks exactly what is on your heart at the moment, so too are the Mitzvos of Hashem. It is now that you have the opportunity to do those Mitzvos, there is no chance for you to wait a while, so make sure to do them with intention and with honesty. “It is so close to you,” it doesn’t require any hard work, all the Torah wants from you is to be honest with how you feel. Be truthful to yourself and you will find that the greatest thing you can do for yourself is spend some more time with Him.

“Atem Nitzavim,” You are all standing firmly on the ground. Here, in this place is where you have a chance to make a better tomorrow. Hashem gave us a Torah that is our guide through every difficulty and every challenge. I know, the moods are strong and our heart’s yearning doesn’t quiet down. What should I do, that my only way to deal with my pain is to seek out instant pleasures and comforts? Moshe Rabbeinu tells us, “Do the Torah!” There is no better way to quell the desires of the heart and quiet down the voices in our minds, this is the way!

“And the Torah is not over the ocean.” We aren’t required to put ourselves into tough situations in order to make our lives better. We tend to think that if we grind hard for a long time we’ll end up finding success on the other side. Think about Columbus, his mission was to map the entire world, in a time where his sailors thought they’d fall off the edge of the earth. His voyage was filled with excitement and his goal was clear before his eyes, it wasn’t just about reaching the land on the other end like the others who gave up midway, it was all about creating a legacy.

In Parshat Vayeira we see the word Nitzavim mentioned as well, when the three angels descended from heaven to be Avaraham Avinu’s guests, “And three people were standing upon him.” The point of life is not to run and look for pleasures all over, it is about standing firmly in our beliefs. Knowing what is in our hearts and speaking truths wherever we go. We see how these three “people” ended up giving over the news that Sarah and him will birth Yitzchak. The purpose of standing firmly with our beliefs is to fulfill Hashem’s will throughout our every moment, and that is what leaves a true legacy. 

We don’t want to be remembered in infamy for the actions we took, we want to be remembered as someone who changed the world. We have to remain steadfast in our convictions here on earth even through turbulent water and rocky waves, it is the current moment that is the current beneath our ship. Standing tall with our belief births children, we leave the next generation better off than how we received it. Not by searching high and far for the next story to tell, each and every moment of our life is a story to tell and a lesson to repeat. Our legacies are carried forth to the next generation and our firmness remains with them in their lives. Sometimes, when we place our hands too close to our eyes we don’t see anything. Remember, even as the world blocks the view of the world, it is what’s in the inside, in your heart and mouth, that truly matters.

David Lemmer is an Orthodox Jewish Authir and Hyonotherapist. Find his books on Amazon and his videos on YouTube. He can be reached at lemmerHypno@gmail.com