Usually a mitzvah is translated as a good deed. Wrong! As in most cases, the translation of a Hebrew word is accurate but does not completely capture its meaning.
A man comes to a marriage therapist and asks him: what do I need to make my wife happy? The therapist answered: I don't know, ask her!
A man comes to a Rabbi and asks him: what do I need to do to make G-d happy? The rabbi answered: I don't know, ask G-d!
What’s the answer? For your wife, ask her!
For G-d, no need to ask Him for He already answered: Do my commandments as I told you in the Torah.
The word mitzvah comes from the Hebrew word Tzav meaning commandment, as well as the Aramaic word Tzavta meaning connection.
A mitzvah is an act that follows a commandment from G-d, doing G-d’s will, which results in a connection with G-d.
A mitzvah is not a good deed done to get to heaven or to feel good or religious. A mitzvah is something done to be connected to G-d.
This is similar to a husband doing what his wife wants, because it is what SHE wants.
See you on Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. this email was prompted by this email exchange –
Rabbi Kushi - Did you report your mitzvah? www.HarfordChabad.org/Light
M - Not yet. The definition of MITZVAH is a tough one. I try to do good and help people every day. For instance, earlier this week, out of the clear blue sky, a guy called for advice on how to ...... How he got my number I will never know. I gave him every good tip and idea I had. I don't even know his name. Was that a mitzvah? It sure made him happy….
I try to be kind to animals, including my fellow man, and I try to forgive those who have done wrong, even if they are unrepentant. Are those mitzvot?