Mitzvah and Torah: A Path to Divine Similarity
Our purpose in life is a transformative journey — a gradual process of changing and developing ourselves until we attain the single creating source of our existence. This attainment is achieved through the merit of becoming similar to this force, the origin of all life. However, this pursuit is fraught with challenges, as we are born with qualities diametrically opposed to those of this creating source. While this force is characterized by pure, absolutely selfless, unconditional love and bestowal, we emerge into the world inherently egocentric, self-serving, self-justifying, and individualistic.
Unique empirical scientists, who have dedicated themselves to studying human nature and the “godly” natural reality enveloping us, point to a profound declaration from this creating force: “I have created the evil inclination, and I have created the Torah as a source, as the light in it returns to the good.” This statement encapsulates both the problem and the solution. The Torah, in this context, is not merely a text but a comprehensive system — an influence emanating from the single governing force of reality. It serves as the reforming light, a method capable of correcting our inherent nature and aligning it with a “godly similarity.” Through this process, we acquire the life-creating and love-nurturing qualities of our source, rising above and against our inborn tendencies to resemble this divine essence.
Within this broader framework, a mitzvah represents a more specific, practical, and proactive act that enables us to consciously draw this reforming light onto our “broken vessels” — the fragmented aspects of our being. Engaging in a mitzvah requires rigorous self-scrutiny, a deep and honest examination that peels back the layers of our inherently selfish, egoistic, and exploitative nature. This introspection fosters a sharp, intense hatred toward these traits, compelling us to actively and wholeheartedly request the unique reforming light to correct us. It is through this deliberate effort that transformation becomes possible.
The general influence of the Torah, as the reforming light, operates ceaselessly, propelling us toward the ultimate goal of creation irrespective of our actions or states. This divine guidance unfolds according to a purposeful plan, steering us forward through either positive or negative experiences. While this process is constant, the performance of mitzvot (plural of mitzvah) allows us to engage with this light more directly and effectively. By doing so, we hasten our spiritual development and circumvent the “path of suffering” — a slower, more arduous journey marked by intolerable pain that eventually forces us to seek correction.
A mitzvah begins with recognition: an acknowledgment of our broken vessels and the fractured state of our being. This awareness leads to prayer — a purposeful act of drawing and harnessing the reforming light to mend and fulfill these broken aspects. Whether through the broader influence of the Torah or the specific practice of mitzvot, receiving this light means attaining and justifying the Creator as the single benevolent force governing reality. Such an attainment, however, is contingent upon acquiring a similarity to His qualities and actions. Only through this alignment can we truly perceive and affirm His benevolence.
This process is dynamic and cyclical. We strive to justify the Creator with full attainment, but inevitably, new states arise that challenge our perception. When we can no longer feel Him as the single benevolent force — when negative emotions surface and our evil inclination reasserts itself, severing our similarity to Him — we recognize that we have become “evil” in our disconnection. In these moments, prayer becomes essential. It is the bridge to performing a mitzvah, enabling us to correct our broken state, restore our similarity of qualities with Him, and once again attain and justify Him through this renewed alignment.
Thus, the interplay of Torah and mitzvot forms a divine methodology for human transformation. The Torah provides the constant, guiding light, while mitzvot offer practical steps to accelerate our progress. Together, they lead us toward the ultimate purpose: to transcend our inherent nature, embody the qualities of unconditional love and bestowal, and unite with the single creating source of all existence. Through conscious effort, self-reflection, and an unwavering commitment to correction, we fulfill our potential to reflect the divine — an aspiration as challenging as it is sublime.