14 Feb SPENDING PRIVATE TIME WITH HASHEM

As we get further from
the Sinai experience,
our spirituality level
decreases. This
phenomenon is known
as niskatnu hadoros,
the generations become
smaller. For this reason,
no Talmudic authority
known as an Amora ever disputed a
Tanna, a Mishnaic authority. Because of
this spiritual deterioration, the Gemora
in Makkos informs us that successive
prophets distilled the Torah’s expectations
into fewer principle objectives until it says
that Chabakuk b’emidan al achas, broke
it down to one general principle, “Tzadik
b’emunoso yichyeh – The righteous man
lives by his faith.” Before that, the prophet
Michah capsulized the Torah’s expectation
into three categories: Ki im asos mishpot,
v’ahavas chesed, v’hatznei’ah leches im
Elokecha.”
Rav Avigdor Miller, Zt”l, Zy”a,
explained that the first two categories are
straightforward. Asos mishpot is the doing
of all laws, both those between man and
Hashem, and those between man and his

fellow man. Ahavas chesed embraces the
love of performing all acts of kindness
ranging from charity to visiting the sick,
rejoicing the bride and groom, comforting
the mourner and giving respect to the dead,
and so on. However, wonders Rav Miller,
the third category is puzzling. For this
level, walking modesty with Hashem, does
not sound like a separate category. It is,
rather, a way to fulfill the other two, namely
that they should be done without ulterior
motives and for the sake of Hashem. As
Rav Elchonan Wasserman, Zt”l, Zy”a,
Hy”d, explained, when one walks modestly
that is proof that he is not doing the deed
for an ulterior motive. It is clearly for the
sake of Hashem.
However, persists Rav Miller, this still
doesn’t seem to be a third category of
mitzvah. He therefore explains that
V’hatznei’ah leches im Elokecha means to
think about Hashem in your mind at “down
times” throughout the day. This, he says, is
called walking privately with Hashem for it
is done in the privacy of the mind without
anyone being aware of it. And this, he says,
is one of the major purposes of life and is a
fitting third category.

Thus, when we are waiting in line at the
Post Office, or sitting in our car in traffic,
or resting for a moment in a chair, and
we take the time to thank Hashem for all
that we have, or when we ask Hashem
for continued health, this is living one’s
life to the fullest. It is the fulfillment of
the directive at the beginning of Kitzur
Shulchan Orech, “Shivisi Hashem l’negdi
somid,” that one should place Hashem
before him at all times. This is the mission
about which Noach was praised, for it says,
“Es haElokim hisaleich Noach,” and it is
what Dovid sings about, “Eshaleich lifnei
Hashem ba’artzos hachaim – I will walk
before Hashem in the land of the living.”
Let’s try to increase the private times
during the day that we think about our
Beloved Creator. This could be lingering
for a moment when we pass a mezuzah, it
could be when we gaze appreciatively at a
sunny day, or when we enjoy a crisp breeze.
It could be for a few seconds before we
take off our tefilin, or when we enjoy the
laughter of a child or a grandchild. When
we increase our relationship with Hashem,
then there will be a greater reciprocity as
then Hashem will grant us more special
attention.
In the merit of our attention to Michah’s
three categories, may Hashem bless us
with long life, good health, and everything
wonderful.