Also, when a man is focused on his mitzvot, spouse, children, and community, he should do so for the sake of purpose. Can any of us truly stand before our Creator and say, I deserve? Is what you want to do for yourself more important than what you could be doing with the remaining hours of the day, for the sake of Hashem, spouse, children and community? The problem is always within oneself, and so is the solution. As Job said “From my flesh I envision Hashem.” Look at “yourself” and ask the question, “what is keeping me away from Hashem?” If you do this, you will soon discover that you were never really without faith, just without will.
This understanding of focusing ones direction on mitzvot is also alluded to within many of the halachah’s of the Shulchan oruch (Laws in the code of Jewish laws). One particular one comes to mind. The Talit, prayer shawl, which we wear has tztitzit (fringes), as dictated by Torah, on its corners. These fringes, with their knots, are tied to represent a value 613, the exact number of Torah mitzvot (commandments). The law is that one must completely wrap oneself in this garment when reciting the blessing, and then it states, those who simply wear it; one must GIRD ones entire body and soul with mitzvot, not just drape IT casually.
Terumah are the sockets which are located at the base of the mishkan (the mobile Temple which was constructed after the giving of the Torah, and Exile from Egypt). Since they are the lowest part of the mishkan, they are the very foundation of the entire Temple, and man is a microcosm of the Holy Temple. Thus, they represent the humility and bittul in the Divine service. The next thing mentioned in the construction of the Mishkan are the Kerashim (boards), and these are relative to the inward (immanent) faculties, i.e., intellect and emotive dispositions. Thus, their length was 10 amot, corresponding to the ten soul powers.
Being that the adanim are the lowest, lower than all individual forms of avodah (service), the aspect of humility, bittul, and kabbalat ol (accepting the yoke of Heaven) are the very basis of all man. As we say, “let my soul be as dust to all” which in turn is the prerequisite for “open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul pursue Your commandments.” This is also why the offering for the adanim was in effect only in the first year, while the other offerings were in effect afterwards as well. For humility and bittul are the foundation and starting point of service. True service. It must be the very first thing which one conquers and applies. Once this foundation has been established, one can continue to higher levels of service. About the adanim offering, the Torah says, “take to Me a terumah (gift). In other words, take it, you take control and bring it to me (the ego), and each person was obliged to “take” the same amount. For the soul powers, or the Kerashim (boards) offering, it was not the same for all. Reason being, everyone must serve Hashem according to his own particular talents and abilities. However, only after he has first made his foundation bittul.
Remember, focus straight ahead, your goal is to be nothing less than productive for Hashem. Your body should become an empty vessel, one with direction and purpose of mitzvot, nothing else. Remain silent in thoughts, for the ego feeds off VOICES to be heard, silence makes it non-existent. You have a thought about “I”, replace it with your purpose and continue. This will awaken powers within you which you did not know existed. This power is the Shechinah (Divine Presence). “If I am not for myself, who is for me?”
