There is a concept in Judaism called Hiddur Mitzvah or beautifying the Mitzvah (commandment). This is generally an optional level of fulfilling the your religious obligations. This level of observance is for those that want to go above and perform the commandments at a higher standard, in a glorious manner.
Some examples are:
- A Torah Scroll written with fine inks, fine quill and wrapped in fine silk
- Buying special foods for Shabbos Kodesh (holy) to beautify the day and make it special
- Spending extra money to buy an extra beautiful flawless Ethrog (Citron)
- Buying a beautiful Lulav (Palm Frond)
- Building a beautiful Sukkah (Booth)
- Using an expensive Menorah (Candelabra) for Chanukah (Festival of Lights)
- When spending on a Mitzvah, add 1/3 to the amount you were originally going to spend
But the best example of a Hiddur Mitzvah is spending, after construction, over 1 million dollars for a building to be a Shul that is only used for "3%" of the week.
10 comments:
Don't forget:
Wednesday January 20th
7 PM
at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Auditorium
655 Teaneck Rd.
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SHLUFFENHEIMER MACDOUGAL,
let me see if I understand this hiddur mitzvah means taking that extra step, so building the biggest house that I can is hiddur mitzvah?
Thank you for responding to my blog, Mr/Mrs Anonymous.
Building a bigger house is not Hiddur Mitzvah, because building a house is not a Mitzvah. Unless its really a Shul, which 554 Queen Anne Rd is!
The Hiddur is that such a huge expense was made for a building that is only being used for "3%" of the week.
I hope that clarified things for you.
Mr. Shluffenheimer: isn't the hiddur mitzva even greater here? The wonderful members if Etz Chaim selflessly devote their barmitzva aged men to the Care One home on Sundays for morning and evening minyan. Not only do they only use the house for only 3% of the week but on a Sunday when they could be using it for services they go elsewhere. If using the house for 3% is a hiddur mitzva kal vachomer having the ability to use it on. Sunday and not doing so! What tzaddikim gemurim.
MacDougal seems to know a lot about Etz Chaim. Can you tell your audience how many of the Etz Chaim Shul members help out at Care One at Sunday minyan? Is it true that Care One is a satellite of Etz Chaim?
It is not a satellite. Rabbi Feldman doesn't even speak there anymore. Some Etz Chaim congregants show up, but they are not relied on for a minyan at all.
Ghost of CareOne is correct. CareOne does not need Etz Chaim for a minyan, so it is baffling why they still go there on Sundays.
See http://macdmusings.blogspot.com/2010/01/selfish-mitzvah-careone-at-teaneck.html
for more on this issue.
Is Etz Chaim worried that they will not succeed and need a place to go in case they don't get the variance? Maybe the Rabbi feels he needs the connection to Care One so he can sleep at night without feeling guilty about his abandonment of Care One??
Rabbi Feldman did not abandon the people of CareOne. He did them a favor by letting them avoid all of the negative publicity of being connected to Etz Chaim.
It was really nice of him.
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