Just Because

This week, we read about the Para Aduma.  The laws of the Red Heifer are so mysterious that even the wisest of men, King Shlomo, said he did not understand it.

There is a halacha in the mishna about not reading by candlelight on Shabbos.  The mishna does not give a reason for this (as opposed to the rabbis of the beraisa who gave a reason, i.e. lest a person adjust the light which is prohibited on Shabbos).  The Vilna Gaon learns from this that we should not tell people not to do something because of any reason.  Once you give a reason, you open yourself up to people thinking the reason does not apply to them or to their circumstance.  Reasons provide people with excuses. 

And this is what the Para Aduma teaches us.  "Zos chukas ha'Torah" - this is the law of the Torah.  It is not just a law concerning impurity and purity.  It is a law that applies to all of Torah.  We observe the mitzvos whether we understand them or not.

I read this dvar Torah and thought about those who espouse teaching everything with explanations and reasons as they do in baal teshuva schools.  There is certainly an honored place for reasons.  They are called "taamei ha'mitzvos" and books like the Sefer Ha'Chinuch, which provides explanations for the mitzvos, are classics in our Torah literature.  However, a foundational message needs to be conveyed loud and clear - we keep Torah and mitzvos because Hashem said so, whether we like the reasons offered or not. 

We do a disservice by seeking to ingratiate ourselves by constantly providing "relevance" and reasons for what we do.  When we present a reason, it should be understood that we do the mitzva regardless, and the reason is merely to give us an appreciation for mitzvos and insights as to their benefit and purpose.  Mitzvos are not negotiable and at the same time that we offer rationales for them, we should be conveying the beauty of the anashim peshutim (simple people) who serve Hashem with love and joy in simple faith.