BackBoth Letter and Spirit
By: Rabbi Dr. Abraham Unger
The Torah is known as a revealed code of law. It is the constitution of the Jewish people. But is the letter of the law its sole goal? Is there anything deeper to living a Torah life than fulfilling a body of codified ritual? Clearly, the Torah hopes that humankind will reach its potential as the crown of creation, using its power of free will to achieve the highest level of conduct.
This week’s parsha reveals in no uncertain terms this aspirational purpose the Torah has in mind for us men and women of flesh and blood. It proclaims that we shall be a holy people. In explaining what the Torah means by holiness, the powerfully conceptual commentator on the Torah, Ramban, employed the phrase, “navel birshut ha’Torah/a person who acts boorishly within the guidelines of the letter of the Law.” For example, a person may keep kosher technically yet still be a glutton with crude manners.
Ramban emphasized that our real purpose is to go beyond the mere letter of the law. Jewish tradition demands more of us than simply carrying out mechanically baseline behaviors. The Mitzvot/commandments teach us to refine our conduct to make ourselves and the world we live in a kinder, more decent place.
The letter of the law may be the foundation, but the spirit of the law is the daily work of living out the ethos of the practices we treasure so deeply.