שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁבֹּר עֶצֶם מִן הַפֶּסַח – שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁבֹּר עֶצֶם מִכָּל עַצְמוֹת הַפֶּסַח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב מו) וְעֶצֶם לֹא תִשְׁבְּרוּ בוֹ.
To not break a bone from the Pesach sacrifice: To not break any from all of the bones of the Pesach sacrifice, as it is stated (Exodus 12:46), “and a bone of it, you shall not break.”
מִשָּׁרְשֵׁי הַמִּצְוָה. לִזְכֹּר נִסֵּי מִצְרַיִם כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ בָּאֲחֵרוֹת. וְגַם זֶה גֶּזַע מִן הַשֹּׁרֶשׁ הַנִּזְכָּר, שֶׁאֵין כָּבוֹד לִבְנֵי מְלָכִים וְיוֹעֲצֵי אָרֶץ לִגְרֹר הָעֲצָמוֹת וּלְשַׁבְּרָם כִּכְלָבִים, לֹא יָאוּת לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּכָה, כִּי אִם לַעֲנִיֵּי הָעָם הָרְעֵבִים. וְעַל כֵּן בִּתְחִלַּת בּוֹאֵנוּ לִהְיוֹת סְגֻלַּת כָּל הָעַמִּים מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ (שם יט ו), וּבְכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן, רָאוּי לָנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מַעֲשִׂים הַמַּרְאִים בָּנוּ הַמַּעֲלָה הַגְּדוֹלָה שֶׁעָלִינוּ בָּהּ בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. וּמִתּוֹךְ הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וְהַדִּמְיוֹן שֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ עוֹשִׂין, נִקְבַּע בְּנַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ הַדָּבָר לְעוֹלָם. וְאַל תַּחְשֹׁב בְּנִי לִתְפֹּשׂ עַל דְּבָרַי וְלוֹמַר וְלָמָּה יְצַוֶּה אוֹתָנוּ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל אֵלֶּה לְזִכְרוֹן אוֹתוֹ הַנֵּס, וַהֲלֹא בְּזִכְרוֹן אֶחָד יַעֲלֶה הַדָּבָר בְּמַחְשַׁבְתֵּנוּ וְלֹא יִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעֵנוּ? דַּע, כִּי לֹא מֵחָכְמָה תִּתְפְּשֵׂנִי עַל זֶה, וּמַחְשֶׁבֶת הַנַּעַר יַשִּׁיאֲךָ לְדַבֵּר כֵּן. וְעַתָּה בְּנִי, אִם בִּינָה שִׁמְעָה זֹּאת, וְהַטֵּה אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמַע (משלי כב יז), אֲלַמֶּדְךָ לְהוֹעִיל בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת. דַּע, כִּי הָאָדָם נִפְעָל כְּפִי פְּעֻלּוֹתָיו, וְלִבּוֹ וְכָל מַחְשְׁבֹתָיו תָּמִיד אַחַר מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁהוּא עוֹסֵק בָּהֶם אִם טוֹב וְאִם רָע, וַאֲפִלּוּ רָשָׁע גָּמוּר בִּלְבָבוֹ וְכָל יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבֹת לִבּוֹ רַק רַע כָּל הַיּוֹם, אִם יַעֲרֶה רוּחוֹ וְיָשִׂים הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּתוֹ וְעִסְקוֹ בְּהַתְמָדָה בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַמִּצְוֹת, וַאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, מִיָּד יִנָּטֶה אֶל הַטּוֹב, וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ בָּא לִשְׁמָהּ, וּבְכֹחַ מַעֲשָׂיו יָמִית הַיֵּצֶר הָרַע, כִּי אַחֲרֵי הַפְּעֻלּוֹת נִמְשָׁכִים הַלְּבָבוֹת. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה אָדָם צַדִּיק גָּמוּר וּלְבָבוֹ יָשָׁר וְתָמִים, חָפֵץ בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַמִּצְוֹת, אִם יַעֲסֹק תָּמִיד בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁל דֹּפִי, כְּאִלּוּ תֹּאמַר דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל שֶׁהִכְרִיחוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמִנָּהוּ בְּאֻמָּנוּת רָעָה, בֶּאֱמֶת אִם כָּל עִסְקוֹ תָּמִיד כָּל הַיּוֹם בְּאוֹתוֹ אֻמָּנוּת, יָשׁוּב לִזְמַן מִן הַזְּמַנִּים מִצִּדְקַת לִבּוֹ לִהְיוֹת רָשָׁע גָּמוּר, כִּי יָדוּעַ הַדָּבָר וֶאֱמֶת שֶׁכָּל הָאָדָם נִפְעָל כְּפִי פְּעֻלּוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ. וְעַל כֵּן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים זַ"ל (מכות כג, ב) רָצָה הקב"ה לְזַכּוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפִיכָךְ הִרְבָּה לָהֶם תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת, כְּדֵי לְהַתְפִּיס בָּהֶן כָּל מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵינוּ וְלִהְיוֹת בָּהֶן כָּל עֲסָקֵינוּ לְהֵטִיב לָנוּ בְּאַחֲרִיתֵנוּ. כִּי מִתּוֹךְ הַפְּעֻלּוֹת הַטּוֹבוֹת אֲנַחְנוּ נִפְעָלִים לִהְיוֹת טוֹבִים וְזוֹכִים לְחַיֵּי עַד. וְרָמְזוּ ז"ל עַל זֶה (מנחות מג, ב), בְּאָמְרָם כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מְזוּזָה בְּפִתְחוֹ וְצִיצִית בְּבִגְדוֹ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, מֻבְטָח לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יֶחֱטָא, לְפִי שֶׁאֵלּוּ מִצְוֹת תְּמִידִיּוֹת, וְנִפְעָל בָּהֶן תָּמִיד.
From the roots of the commandment is to remember the miracles of Egypt, as we have written in the other [related commandments]. And this is also a trunk from the root mentioned: For it is not honorable for the sons of kings and the advisers of the land to drag the bones and break them like dogs. Except for the impoverished among the people and the starving, it is not a proper thing to do this. And therefore, as we began to become the chosen of all nations, “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” — and in each and every year at that time — it is fitting for us to do acts that show within us the great stature which we achieved at that time. And in the act and reenactment that we do, this thing is placed in our souls for eternity. My son, do not think to pounce upon my words and say, “Why would God, may He be blessed, command us to do all of these commandments to commemorate that miracle; would we not remember it with one commemoration, [such that] it not be forgotten from the mouth of our offspring?” You must know that it is not from wisdom that you would [question] me about this, and it is your youthful thoughts that lead you to this. And now, my son, “If you have understanding,” “incline your ear and hear,” and I will teach you to benefit from Torah and the commandments: You must know, that a man is acted upon according to his actions; and his heart and all his thoughts always follow after the actions that he does — whether good or bad. And even he who in his heart is a complete sinner and all the desires of his heart are only for evil; if his spirit shall be enlightened and he will put his efforts and actions to persist in Torah and commandments — even if not for the sake of Heaven — he shall immediately incline towards the good. And from that which is not for its own sake comes that which is for its own sake [as opposed to being for personal gain]; for the hearts are drawn after the actions. And even if a man is perfectly righteous and his heart is straight and innocent, desiring of Torah and the commandments; if he shall constantly deal with improper things, you could compare it to someone who was forced by the king to work a wicked craft — if he constantly works in that wicked craft — eventually, from his righteousness, he shall have become completely evil. For it is known and true that every man is acted upon according to his actions, as we have said. And the Sages, may their memory be blessed, said about this (Makkot 23b), “God wanted to grant merits to Israel, therefore he gave them many laws and commandments,” to occupy all of our thoughts and all our deeds, to benefit us at our end [i.e. in the world to come]. Because from the good actions we are acted upon to be good and merit eternal life. And the Sages hinted at this (Menachot 43b) with their statement that anyone who has a mezuzah on his door, tsitsit on his garment and tefillin on his head is promised that he shall not sin — for these are constant commandments, and [so] he is constantly acted upon by them.
לָכֵן אַתָּה רְאֵה גַּם רְאֵה, מָה מְלַאכְתְּךָ וְעִסְקְךָ, כִּי אַחֲרֵיהֶם תִּמָּשֵׁךְ וְאַתָּה לֹא תִּמְשְׁכֵם. וְאַל יַבְטִיחֲךָ יִצְרְךָ לוֹמַר, אַחֲרֵי הֱיוֹת לִבִּי שָׁלֵם וְתָמִים בֶּאֱמוּנַת אֱלֹהִים, מָה הֶפְסֵד יֵשׁ כִּי אֶתְעַנֵּג לִפְעָמִים בְּתַעֲנוּגֵי אֲנָשִׁים, בַּשְּׁוָקִים וּבָרְחוֹבוֹת, לְהִתְלוֹצֵץ עִם הַלֵּצִים, וּלְדַבֵּר צָחוֹת, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בְּאֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין מְבִיאִין עֲלֵיהֶן אֲשָׁמוֹת וְחַטָּאוֹת, הֲלֹא גַּם לִי לֵבָב כְּמוֹ הֵם, קָטָנִּי עָבָה מִמָּתְנֵיהֶם, וּמַדּוּעַ יִמְשְׁכוּנִי הֵם אַחֲרֵיהֶם? אַל בְּנִי, הִשָּׁמֵר מִפְּנֵיהֶם, פֶּן תִּלָּכֵד בְּרִשְׁתָּם. רַבִּים שָׁתוּ מִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ כּוֹס תַּרְעֵלָתָם, וְאַתָּה אֶת נַפְשְׁךָ תַּצִּיל. וְאַחַר דַּעְתְּךָ זֶה, אַל יִקְשֶׁה עָלֶיךָ מֵעַתָּה רִבּוּי הַמִּצְוֹת בְּעִנְיַן זְכִירַת נִסֵּי מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהֵם עַמּוּד גָּדוֹל בְּתוֹרָתֵנוּ, כִּי בִּרְבוֹת עִסְקֵנוּ בָּהֶם, נִתְפַּעֵל אֶל הַדָּבָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ.
Therefore, surely observe what [you choose] to be your craft and your dealings, since you will be pulled by them and you will not pull them. And do not let your [evil] impulse assure you by saying, “Since my heart is complete and pure in the faith of God, what loss is there if I periodically enjoy the pleasures of men in the markets and the plazas — to joke with the jokers and to speak finely, and similarly, [to perform] those things for which one needs not bring up guilt-offerings and sin-offerings — do I not have a heart like them, ‘my small finger is thicker than their loins,’ and how would they pull me in behind them?” Do not [say this], my son. Guard yourself from them, lest you be trapped in their snare. Many have drunk the cup of poison due to this, but you should save your soul. And once you know this, the multitude of commandments about the matter of remembering the miracles of Egypt will no longer be a challenge to you — as they are a great pillar in our Torah. Since by greatly engaging in them, we will be acted upon by the matter, as we have said.
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For most of my life, I have lived under the impression that my actions will follow my heart—that the things I treasured most would be reflected by my investments. As the saying goes, “You can tell what’s important to someone by looking at their calendar and checkbook.”
While I think there is some truth in that statement, over the past few years of pursuing minimalism, I have begun to notice that the inverse is probably even more true.
I find that my heart appears naturally drawn to the places where I have invested most.
It is not necessarily that my actions follow the desires of my heart. Instead, I find that my heart appears naturally drawn to the places where I have invested most.
It is a subtle distinction, but an important one.
This principle was profoundly etched in my mind the day my family and I went grocery shopping and left the store to find a fresh, large, white scrape across the passenger side of our maroon minivan.
The minivan was far from new. Yet, there was an immediate pit that emerged in my stomach over the wrong that had been committed. The driver kindly left us with no insurance or contact information, just a large noticeable scrape down the side of our vehicle. The distress was strengthened by the fact that I knew too well I was too cheap to ever get it repaired. The unsightly scratch would likely remain over the course of the van’s life.
My wife and I drove away in silence.
I began to reflect on the scratch and more importantly, how the incident had impacted me internally.
I found it interesting to consider the fact that if this same scrape had been left on my bicycle, I would not have been nearly as upset. And I couldn’t help but wonder why that was the case. Why did the action cut so deep into my stomach and heart? Why was a white scrape on my minivan causing such a heart-level response?
Our hearts always follow our greatest investments.
I realized I was so upset about this scrape because our vehicle was such a large investment. I had invested considerable money into buying it and time and energy caring for it. I wouldn’t mind if my son’s skateboard got a new scratch because… well, I didn’t have nearly as much treasure invested into it. But my vehicle was a huge investment (probably our second biggest) and because of that, my heart naturally gravitated toward it.
Where our treasures are, there our hearts will be also.
Our hearts always follow our greatest investments.
Whether it be our car, our house, our career, or our investment portfolio. We literally tie our hearts to certain things by the sheer amount of investment we put into them.
Unfortunately, too many of us are tying our hearts to the wrong things.
We are devoting our lives and tying our hearts to material possessions that will never last or bring us true joy. We shop for bigger houses, faster cars, trendier clothes and cooler technology. Subsequently, we invest so much of our time and energy into caring for them. But lasting fulfillment can never be tied to things that are temporal by nature.
Instead, we ought to invest our money, time, and lives into things that are truly important. Invest into your family, your friends, spiritual pursuits, or the causes that you believe in. As you do, you’ll notice your heart naturally begins to be drawn to them more and more.
The allure of materialism is hard to break.
As long as we live on earth surrounded by material possessions, keeping them in proper perspective is going to be a struggle. But we can begin to break its fascination in our lives by reminding ourselves that we are investing more than our dollars into them. We are tying our very hearts to them as well.
