19 Jan Parshas Yitro – Exodus 20:13 ‘You shall not steal’
Inspired by the teachings of HaRav Yitzchak Ginsburgh and Rabbi Moshe Genuth
In parshas Yitro we receive the 10 Commandments.
One of the 10 Commandments we received at Mt Sinai is ‘You shall not steal’ (Yitro – Exodus 20;13).
This is not as simple as it sounds. Like all Torah teachings, there is the superficial meaning, and there are deeper levels of meaning.
It is considered that the #1 sin is theft as all sins include the theft which is essentialy the stealing of time.
We learn that in Bereishit where the first verse states “In the beginning…’ the Torah is referring to “In the beginning [ of time] , also translated as “With the beginning of time [ all else was created]. This kabbalistic insight then includes the understanding that IT WAS WITH THE TOOL-OF-TIME THAT ALL WAS CREATED; THEREFORE ALL CREATION CONTAINS WITHIN IT (the tool, the element of) ‘TIME’. So all averas (sins) then compromise the sanctity (i.e. detract) from the perfection of creation by stealing from it’s holiness , the holiness in potential, and the holiness of the time contained within.
Time is infinite. Like Hashem, His Name, it is past, present and future. To Hashem however, in the infinite spiritual realm, the past, present and future occur as one. They are not bound by the limitations of the physical world. This is much like the experience at Sinai when ‘they saw the sounds’. The experience of oneness of the sense of sight and sound(synesthesia) transcended the boundaries of time-space and the physical boundaries of the physical world.
We live in a ‘pluralistic world’, a world that is a mixture of the infinite (spiritual) and finite (physical) . The ability to compartmentalize time-space on a continuum as we can understand it is a gift, a chesed (kindness) given to us by Hashem so we are able through our physical and spiritual journey with time in this world to do the tshuvah necessary to repair the world. Through the (Kabbalistic) mechanisms of creation of time when can transcend the limitations of this lower world of asya (action), and as a Jew go beyond the deterministic forces of the mazel (constellations).
Our primary instinct assumes we are in the present and moving forward. As a means of reflection may also look upon the past (such as to always remember the Exodus from Egypt and other times of darkness that contain powerful sparks rectification [holiness]). However, we also have the ability with the proper focus and guidance of the teachings of Torah to bring the future to the present. To have a goal in mind from the future give us the ability to bring to the present a ‘rectified goal’… successful unification… Oneness . This is the same way we look to bring the future into to the present is the building of the 3rd Temple and the Final Redemption; Mashiach. Any goal that has a rectified focus is then possible.
As time is the first tool in the process of creation, all creation contains the element of time. In the matter of addiction (as in other negatively impacting behaviours), we come to the transgression of stealing time from the potential of rectifying our relationships with ourselves, others and G-d.
It is through the process of recovery that we also use the tool of time in a positive elevating way during the process of our tshuvah as we repair, grow and rectify our relationships with ourselves, others and G-d.
Time is not only of the essence, Time is the essence of all creation.
We should not waste a moment.
Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
.lawrencejlax@gmail.com