Testing, One, Two, Three

“See, I have  put  before you today life and good, and death and evil” (Devarim 30:15).

Rav Yitzchok Hutner explains  that beyond the obvious differences between life and death and good and evil, there is more profound distinction. Life requires continuous sustenance, and a person who doesn’t  regularly eat, drink and constantly breathe will die. Death is different; once something has died, it remains dead  (Rabbi Ozer Alport, Parsha Potpourri).

In general, I consider myself a soft-spoken and sensible person. I’m a big Dale Carnegie fan and prefer diplomacy to discord.

Still, I’m only human, and every once in a while, a person pushes my buttons and I want to react. This usually involves some form of injustice, or some unjustifiable behavior or speech. Then, despite my best intentions, I respond with a sharp retort, all the while wishing I’d retained my fifth amendment rights and remained silent. I dislike myself for stooping to the instigator’s level and reprimand myself, determined it won’t happen again.

This distinction between life and death is paralleled with the difference between good and evil. A person who chooses the path of Torah and mitzvos is spiritually alive, yet he can never let his guard down, for life requires continual nourishment and vigilance. In contrast, a wicked person who is  spiritually dead will remain in that state if he does not exert effort.

A few weeks ago I had to go to a government office in another city to take care of some paperwork. I called the office the afternoon before and was told they open at 8:30 a.m. I showed up at 8:50 the next morning, and sure enough the door was open, so I walked in, wished the clerk sitting at the desk good morning, and began sifting through my paperwork.

“We only open at nine,” he said curtly.