In this week's Torah portion, Shoftim, we are commanded not to practice sorcery, fortune-telling and divining. These were the practices of the nations living in the land that we were about to enter, the land that G-d was giving to us as an inheritance, Eretz Israel. The Torah calls these practices an abomination to G-d.

Instead of following these practices, we are told that we should be perfect (tamim) with G-d. The great Torah commentator, Rashi, in translating the word tamin goes away from the more common use and translates it as "simple-heartedly." To quote Rashi:

walk with Him simple-heartedly and look forward to what He has in store. Do not probe into the future but rather accept whatever happens simple-heartedly. Then you will be with Him and His inheritance.

The Torah goes on to teach about prophecy and how it is permissible to consult a prophet when there is good reason, but not to probe into one's destiny. Rashi does reconcile the seemingly apparent contradiction.

As you know by now, for me the best way is to keep it simple. Yes, there are many many great teachings and insights to be learned here, but let's keep it simple: we just need to have simple faith like a child and trust that our future is safely in the hands of HaShem. Everything is divine providence.

Remember when the soothsayers told Avraham and Sarah, that according to the stars and nature, they were destined never to have children. We know that their future wasn't in the stars, it was in the hands of HaShem.

HaShem told Avraham to go out and count the stars, the message was that Avraham, you are above the stars, above nature. Do not believe the fortune tellers because you will have children. In the end, they had a child named Issac, from whom came Jacob and the entire Jewish nation.

I told you before and I will keep telling you: The Jewish people are the most special nation on earth, privileged with the most special task. Our mission is to make this world a dwelling place for G-d, to reveal the G-dliness that already exists here. You have the power and ability to change the world and to make known to the world that there is only one G-d. And you can do it because you are above nature. Trust HaShem, walk simple-heartedly with Him and look forward to what He has for you. Always remember that you are in the hands of HaShem and that everything is divine providence.

As always,

Learn a little more Torah.
Do one more mitzvah.
Love one another.

Change the world.
L'chaim, L'chaim
r. yaakov ephraim