Targum/Feldheim 375 pp.
The Jewish book market is awash with English titles. Torah
works broadly fall into two categories: Halachic works make
the laws of Jewish living accessible to the masses while
works of hashkofoh probe the philosophical meaning of
life.
What is often not addressed, however, is the synthesis
between these genres: namely, how halachah and hashkofoh
interrelate with each other. This is exactly what Osher
Chaim Levene achieves in his newly published work SET IN
STONE: The Meaning of Mitzvah Observance.
The Luchos whose engraved words are "set in stone"
symbolize how the commandments are similarly inscribed in the
heart and soul of every Jew. They relate to his essence
because mitzvos define every aspect of Jewish living. The
writer illuminates how the precepts are the cause rather than
the reaction to the universe. The mitzvah of mezuzah
for example, is thus not the result of living in a house. On
the contrary, man's residence in a house is the backdrop to
facilitate his putting up a mezuzah.
A mitzvah is, first and foremost, a royal edict from the
Creator that need not be understood to be performed.
Shemiras hamitzvos cannot have human reason as its
foundation. Even if the rationale were to become invalid the
law would still not lose its application. Searching for the
depth and meaning of the commandments is, instead, the quest
for ta'amei hamitzvos, namely acquiring a
"ta'am— taste" for a Jew to more closely relate
to a mitzvah. It is like a child or servant wanting to
enhance and strengthen his commitment to his Master's
dictates by plumbing their infinite depth.
Also, increasing man's appreciation of the mitzvos prevents
shemiras hamitzvos from degenerating into rote,
performed without any enthusiasm or sensitivity to what the
mitzvah involves.
Osher Chaim Levene leads the reader on a scintillating
journey through many of the mitzvos that a Jew performs
during his life such as bris milah, tzitzis, arba minim,
matzah, challah, loshon hora, gid hanoshe and
shemittah. With each chapter a short, self-contained
essay, the author adopts one approach to a mitzvah in
question. The essays are conveniently arranged under sections
such as "Signs & Symbols," "Around the Year," "Jewish
Family," and "Jewish Eating."
The author relates, for example, how the Jewish people are
the metaphysical tefillin of Hashem; how the six outer
physical dimensions and inner seventh point relate to the six
days of creation and the seventh day of Shabbos; how the
mitzvah of hashovas aveidoh contains echoes to the
shofar's announcement for the lost sinner to repent
and return home; and how bikkurim involves choosing
the elite of the elite.
An eminently attractive volume with a striking cover, the
elegant internal layout complements the contents. The
taryag mitzvos, the seven Noachide mitzvos, six
constant mitzvos and seven rabbinic mitzvos are usefully
included in the book's appendices.
Tackling a topic relevant for every Jew both young and old,
SET IN STONE is essential reading. In a world in
pursuit of meaning, Osher Chaim Levene gives us a Torah
perspective of approaching the reasons and wisdom of the
mitzvos. A serious, scholarly, yet highly readable work, this
book does not pretend to provide light reading. But it most
definitely delivers on its promise to be a profound, thought-
provoking work, making it a worthy and valuable contribution
to the existing available works of Jewish thought written in
English.
Weaving together ideas from the Maharal, Sefas Emes and Rav
Tzaddok HaKohen, Rav Hirsch, Rav Dessler, and more, this
earnest work is brimming with ideas. Rav Zev Leff, rav of
Moshav Matityahu, describes the contents as " . . . deep yet
easily understood; original, yet firmly rooted in traditional
values." It includes approbations from Harav Chaim Pinchas
Scheinberg, rosh yeshivas Torah Ohr and Harav Mattisyahu
Salomon, Lakewood Mashgiach Ruchani, amongst others.
A renowned writer of Torah essays that have appeared in
numerous Jewish publications, Osher Chaim Levene uses his
literary skills as a newspaper columnist and experience as a
educator at JLE (Ohr Somayach) center in London to present a
rare treat: a work simultaneously geared to a bar mitzvah
boy, the newcomer to Judaism and to the Jew with a lifetime
of observance behind him. The reader is bound to emerge
inspired to reinvigorate his awareness and level of
shemiras hamitzvos.
