... Recommend this page to a friend.

Some people think that Judaism belongs in the synagogue. A common fallacy; truth is that when Jews leave the synagogue, they should not leave their Judaism in the synagogue. The Torah and the codes of Jewish law contain detailed and minute advice and ethical guidance for every aspect of daily life, from the most mundane to the loftiest.

One of the laws mentioned is that "When you will see your enemy's chamor (donkey) collapsed under its load, you may wish to refrain from assisting; nevertheless, you should help." Beyond the simple meaning of this precept is a deeper explanation.

The word "chamor" in Hebrew, as well as meaning donkey, can also mean "material" ... referring to the physical body and its mundane desires and needs in a very physical, material world. The verse above can be understood as follows:

When you will see your enemy's "chamor" ... initially a person may see their material self as the enemy. In striving to refine our character traits and our selves, the physical realities and drives of everyday life often get in the way of spiritual growth; the body and what it represents becomes an adversary to the soul.

"…collapsed under its load…" In such conditions, the body is struggling under the weight of the Torah and its requirements. Really the Torah is "its" load, meaning it is intended to help refine and transform the body. When we do not recognize this, though, the body obstructs and may "collapse" under this load.

Our first instinct may be to "refrain from assisting" ... to simply negate the physical, since it is getting in the way. This is not what Judaism demands. Judaism is not about asceticism, but rather about elevating and transforming the physical objects and world around us by using them for holy purposes. Therefore, we are charged with the responsibility that "nevertheless, you should help" ... just like helping the donkey with the burden, we are encouraged to take the physical body, with its "load" of Torah and to realize that it is not really a burden but that not only can it be borne, but that Torah is there to help and to refine the physical, to infuse it with holiness and spirituality.

At the foot of Mt. Sinai, the Jewish people tell Moses: "All that G-d has spoken, we will do, and we will hear."

The greatness of the people of Israel was not that they were prepared to "blindly" follow G-d's bidding without any understanding. If this were the case they would have just said, "We will do". Their greatness was that they placed their "doing" before their understanding.

Yes, we must understand and learn about what we are doing. However, our limited understanding and lack of knowledge should not cause our actual actions to be lacking. If we know it is something that must be done, we do it first. Only afterwards do we probe into the whys and wherefores.

The same is true of our Jewish traditions and laws. We are definitely mandated to learn and to study, but sometimes it seems like there is endless material to wade through. We should not feel that it is somehow irresponsible to begin with actions, followed up by understanding of what we are doing and the deeper reasons for it later on, if necessary.