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Volunteer for Hashem

A person worried about the weight of mitzvos can simply volunteer each morning, a little at a time.

A teaching ofChacham Bentzion Abba Shaulהרב בן ציון בן אליהו אבא שאולProfile ›

A man new to Torah once told Rav Ben Tzion that he feared the mitzvos would be a burden too heavy to carry. The Rosh Yeshiva told him there was no reason to feel pressured. Each morning, he said, do not obligate yourself; volunteer. Offer to wear tefillin, since it is not so difficult, and he demonstrated how. Then offer to daven, with a little more added daily. To serve in Hashem's army of volunteers, he said, is an honor. The same joy shaped his halachic teaching. Teaching that one may not ask a non-Jew to extinguish a blaze on Shabbos even if every possession is lost, he explained that a Jew should sing and dance at the chance to love Hashem with all his me'odecha, a word the Sages read as including one's possessions.

Source: Yated Ne'eman feature on Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul (sayings recorded in his name); the printed source in his seforim has not been located.

Practical lessonStart by volunteering

Pick one mitzvah that has felt too large and offer it to Hashem for today only. It might be a short tefillah said with care, a page of learning, or an act of chesed you usually postpone. Say to yourself that you are not obligating yourself forever, only volunteering this morning. Then do it gladly, with a little song if you can. Tomorrow you can volunteer again, and a little more. Serving Him this way feels like a privilege and not a weight.

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