Doing is Believing ... (adapted from Rabbi N. Silberberg)
Our forefather Abraham dedicated his entire life to teaching and sharing his monotheistic belief with the masses. Abraham employed many “advertising techniques” by which he taught the society around him to adhere to a higher moral code.
Our Sages relate a most fascinating method:
Abraham erected a tent in middle of the desert and any traveler who entered would be served a sumptuous meal which included bread, meat, wines and other delicacies. When the guest was satiated and was ready to continue on his journey, Abraham would ask him to thank the Creator for the food he had just eaten. If the guest couldn't formulate a blessing on his own, Abraham would teach him to say: "Blessed be the Master of the World, whose food we have eaten."
Occasionally, a recalcitrant pagan would refuse Abraham's request. At this point, our Rabbis relate, Abraham would provide his guest with a bill for all the food which had been served: Pita – $150. Soup de jour – $300. Entrée – $500. Beverage – $100. In response to the miserable guest's protests, Abraham would patiently explain that in a free-market society prices are determined by supply and demand. Such outrageous food prices are justified in a desert, where such provisions are extremely scarce. "However," Abraham graciously concluded, "I will happily waive all charges if you consent to thank the A-mighty for the meal!"
Even the most ardent pagan was hard pressed to refuse such a proposal...
Though this story demonstrates our Patriarch's ingenuity and is a testament to his commitment to his mission of publicizing G‑d's holy name amongst the population, it begs the question: what was Abraham accomplishing through extracting "forced blessings" from reluctant idol worshippers? Why did Abraham attach any value to blessings which were obviously uttered out of desperation and coercion?
The answer lies in the classic Jewish rule: "actions affect the heart."
Abraham understood that the most effective way to influence a person, to nudge him in a spiritual direction, is actually getting him to do a mitzvah. Oftentimes, a person who lives in a spiritual void, needs some prodding, and when the person is persuaded to do a mitzvah, the simple beauty of submitting to the authority of a Higher Being is highly addictive. For the person who is completely engrossed in mundane activities, the moment when he/she is given the opportunity to connect with G‑d is a breath of fresh air.
This is something which must be experienced — no amount of explanation can replace the feeling experienced when doing a mitzvah.
Undoubtedly, every of us is endowed with Free Choice, and we can therefore choose to ignore the effect of the mitzvah, but inducing ourselves to actually perform a mitzvah is the best weapon we have in our holy mission of becoming closer to our Father in Heaven.
Doing is believing – try It!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
