2020/5780

One of the highlights of a child’s year is their birthday. Not only do they turn a year older, but they are also presented with presents to mark this momentous occasion. Generally, children cannot wait to play with their newly acquired toys, often opening them up before their family is done singing ‘Happy Birthday’.However, after a couple of months of playing with their birthday presents, there is no longer the excitement of them being ‘new toys’ and these presents slowly move toward the ‘old toy’ pile.

In Parshat Ki Tavo, Moshe says, “HaYom Hazeh Hashem Elokecha Mizavecha La’asot Et HaChukim HaElah VeEt HaMishpatim VeShamarta Vasita Otam BeChol Levavecha U’VeChol Nafshecha” - Today, Hashem commands you to observe these laws and rules and to observe them faithfully with all your heart and soul” (Deuteronomy 26:16). The question often proposed about this pasuk is why the phrase “Hayom Hazeh” is used. Were all the mitzvot of the Torah commanded on this day? Many Mefarshim address this issue.

Ibn Ezra (ibid) explains that this marks the resumption of Moshe’s speech to Bnei Yisrael after being interrupted by many mitzvot such as Bikkurim. Sforno (ibid) explains that the phrase “HaYom Hazeh” symbolizes Bnei Yisrael entering into a covenant with Hashem, promising to keep His mitzvot and observe His, something no nation has done. As these Mefarshim explain this phrase in regard to the context, Rashi finds a deep meaning to “Hayom Hazeh”. Rashi (ibid) says that to us it should feel as everyday Hashem is commanding us to perform these mitzvot. These mitzvot should not only be performed with excitement for the first couple of months and then become boring, but it should feel like each day you were commanded these mitzvot for the first time.

When a Bar Mitzvah boy puts on his tefillin or lains from the Torah for the first time, it is a very exciting experience. As the boy grows up, he should not let these mitzvot fall into the ‘old toy pile’, but he should have the same excitement he did on the first day every single day.

However, this does not only have to apply to mitzvot, but can apply to every day of our lives. Each day Hashem grants us with a new opportunity, a new day. This provides us with a chance to serve Hashem through tefillah and talmud torah, a chance to grow as a human being, and a chance to have a positive influence on others around us. Days should not be seen as something regular, but a new opportunity for us to engage in new action making the world around us a better place.