Shabbos as a Project

     This was the shabbos that everyone was supposed to be mekarev non-frum Jews and have them keep shabbos for one day. A lofty idea. I am not in to kiruv so I was not so excited about the whole deal. Kiruv events are often created solely for those they want to mekarev and the the designated kiruv professionals. I guess this is okay but what about the rest of us who actually are frum but could use a little inspiration? What about a global shabbos that is like a shabbaton for all Jews not just those you want to mekarev? We could all use a boost of enthusiasm about religion. Maybe just I do, but I suspect its not just me. We continually lament those who go OTD when really the time to work on those who are OTD  is before they become OTD.
     If there is one thing that I have learned about modern health is to to practice preventative care. Go to the doctor for routine check ups. Take  necessary medication. Eat healthy foods, take vitamins. The same can be applied to frumkeit. Strive to make mitzvot less rote and more mindful.
      Torah observance should not just seem like a list of rules to follow, but a lifestyle one wants to follow and one should desire to follow the mitzvot.
       I think that expanding our circles to include less observant Jews is bigger than making it a "project". I have friends who always invite their non-frum neighbors for Friday night shabbos dinners  and include them  as guests at their family simchas. This to me is a more natural way of kiruv.
       Lastly , I think that enhancing the singing of zemirot on shabbos or singing with one's family or friends after havdallah instead of just rushing off to do weekday activities might deepen our commitment to being observant Jews. Mitzvot can sometimes become so rote that we forget how enjoyable they are .
     

what are your intentions?

when i was a kid i was taught that when one does a mitzvah lo lishmah bah lishmah. when one does a mitzvah without the proper intention  you will eventually do it with the proper intention.  this is so profound. this means that hashem knows that people aren't always on the level to do the mitzvah totally lishmah and will give us points for a mitzvah even if it is done by rote. this also means that one should not look down on those who are religious but are shomer shabbos more because this is how they are than because they consciously made the decision to become religious. it also invalidates those who  won't do mitzvot because they don't believe in them even if they might get enjoyment  doing them lo lishmah.
a few years ago i went to a book reading that featured  shalom auslander of foreskin's lament fame. at the event he proudly shared that he specifically did not want his wife to light chanukkah candles if  she said any brachos when she lit them or if she assigned any religious meaning to them because he did not believe in any form of religion. he was just so frum about not being frum.
being an observant jew is not for everyone. i get that. i also think that its ok to be an observant jew without  ideologically agreeing with every aspect of the religion. i also think that its better to observe a little of the torah than nothing at all. i do not think that hashem expects everyone to be perfectly observant , i think he just wants us to do as much as we are able to at whatever level we are on.

lessons to learn

i would always cringe when the response to many a tragedy is that people need to dress more modestly. i always found this quite amusing. what ever happened to the importance of behaving more modestly ? now  more than ever i find this to be true.. leiby kletzky's murderer dressed like a frum jew, but he most certainly did not behave like one. it is so important for all of us who appear to be frum to make sure we are really behaving in the way someone who looks like a  frum person should.
i think that the focus on people dressing modestly is so a person will be embarrassed to act inappropriately because one looks so frum. from one standpoint i understand this . if you do a mitzvah you will internalize it eventually.  dress is just superficial , an action (mitzvah) is more powerful than a costume. we must aspire to doing many mitzvot and behaving jewish and have good midos . this way those of  us who are frum will really be frum and not just appear to be frum.