Respect the mitzvah, Respect the One who commanded it

Hi,

[The Torah instructs us to bury the blood of certain animals, as well as birds, after performing shechitah.]

"When one buries the blood, he should not bury it with his foot, but with his hand, or a knife, or another tool, so as not to treat it with disgrace and degrade the mitzvot for himself.

"This honour is not due to the mitzvot themselves, but to the Blessed One who issued them, rescuing us from feeling our way in the dark and preparing for us a lamp by which to straighten the crooked and a light to show the paths of righteousness. Thus Tehillim 119:105 says, 'Your words are a lamp for my feet, and light for my path.'"

(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Shechitah 14:16)

המצפה לישועה,

Mordechai

Grabbing a mitzvah

Hi,

"Rava said: Rav Yosef tested us with the following question: If a kohen grabs from the gifts which are designed forkohanim, is he displaying love for the mitzvah or is he degrading the mitzvah? And we answered him that the Torah says, "And he shall give [the gift]" – indicating that the kohen should not take it on his own."

(Talmud, Chullin 133a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rising for those who perform chesed

Hi,

"Rabbi Yosi bar Bun said: Those who stand before the dead are not standing before the dead, but before those who are performing chesed for it."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Bikkurim 3:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honoring performance of a mitzvah

Hi,

"See how great is the power of people performing mitzvot: Workers are not supposed to rise before elders while working, but they are supposed to rise before people who are performing mitzvot."

(Talmud Yerushalmi, Bikkurim 3:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Honoring mitzvot

Hi,

"One may not examine coins by the light of the Chanukah flames... lest the mitzvah be degraded for him."

(Talmud, Shabbat 22a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai