Why must we follow the Torah?

QUESTION: Isn’t it good enough just to be a good person? Why must we follow the Torah?

ANSWER: And the answer is--Why must you keep traffic laws? Isn’t it good enough to be a good person? How many good people go through red lights? How many good people have killed innocent persons by driving drunk?

Good intentions are not enough to be a good person. A man must be bound by a code. And if he is choosing a code, he might as well take the very best code there is. There is no such thing as a good person without Torah.

A good person can be a mercy killer, he kills his old mother because he cannot see her suffer. A good person can be a selfish man, who thinks he is doing good, when in reality he is only helping himself, because he is blinded by his own desires.

We have to know that nobody is able to live with standards that he himself creates.
...whatever people consider as standards in one generation can change in another generation. It’s only those who live by the eternal standard of Torah, who remain good forever and ever.

"A Moment with Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Z’ tl

Eighth Day of Pesach - Mashiach's Feast

Acharon Shel Pesach/the last day of Passover has a special connection to the coming of Mashiach/Messiah. It is the day we celebrate our hope for the coming of Mashiach.
The eighth day of Pesach is celebrated by eating a special, festive meal, a custom initiated by the Baal Shem Tov, approximately 250 years ago, called Mashiach’s Feast. In the time of the Baal Shem Tov, the main element of the meal was matzah. The custom of adding four cups of wine was added at a later time.

Matzah is poor man's bread, flat and tasteless. Wine, in contrast, not only possesses taste, but also induces joy and delight.

The four cups symbolize, among other things, the four letters of G-d’s Name, which will someday be revealed.

What is the connection between the last day of Pesach and Mashiach? The last day of Pesach is the conclusion of that which began on the first night of Pesach. The first night of Pesach is the festival commemorating the Israelites’ redemption from Egypt by the hand of G-d. It was the first redemption, carried out through Moshe, who was the first redeemer; it was the beginning. The last day of Pesach is the festival commemorating the final redemption, when G-d will redeem the world (both Jews and non-Jews) through Mashiach, who is the final redeemer. The first day of Pesach is Moshe’s festival; the last day of Pesach is Mashiach's festival.

Pesach is the festival that celebrates freedom. The first day celebrates Israel’s’ redemption from the first exile; the last day celebrates the future redemption from the final exile.


Today, the last day of Passover, I spent the day studying about Mashiach and the Final Redemption. I ended the week of Passover by partaking in the Mashiach’s Feast - complete with shmurah matzah and four cups of wine (in my pretty pink wine glasses). I, together with many other people throughout the world anticipate and celebrate the imminent arrival of the Mashaich. [Lance could not be at home for this special time.]

I wanted to share some of the things I learned (or reviewed) about Mashiach today…

*When Mashiach comes the world will rise to perfection. The material world will remain unchanged with all its natural laws and characteristics, and yet, at the same time, people will have a heightened sensitivity to spirituality and be able to perceive the G-dliness in all of creation.

*When Mashiach comes there will be no temptation to do evil. We will no longer have the inclination towards evil within us. We will have the ability of pushing ourselves to the limits. In the Messianic Era “choice” will mean how high we want to soar - how much do we want to accomplish.

*Mashiach is not the eternal domination of one people and the eternal damnation of all others.

*Mashiach is Utopia. The Era of Mashiach will usher in the ultimate pleasure - the pleasure of basking in G-dliness.

*Mashiach is the answer to “Why are we here?” We will no longer suffer from anxiety and depression. We will understand the reason(s) we were born.

*Mashiach will teach the purpose of life to the universe and redeem mankind from meaninglessness. When he comes divine inspiration will be poured out on all mankind and the knowledge of G-d will fill the world like the water in the sea.

*Mashiach will solve the problem of world hunger. There will no longer be famine any place on earth. No one will be starving. In fact, people everywhere will have a higher standard of living than they do today.

*Mashiach will bring peace to the world. There will not be any more wars. No more school shootings. No more bullies. No more terrorist attacks. No more hatred or fighting between people. No more jealousy or gossiping. Even the wild animals on earth will live peacefully with other creatures and humans.

*Mashiach/Messiah (comes from the Hebrew word meaning “the anointed one”) will be a dynamic global leader. All the nations of the earth will recognize him as Mashiach and will accept his dominion as world leader. He will be Jewish. He will be a learned Torah scholar. He will be fully human, born of two Jewish parents. He is not G-d, but will teach the world to know G-d. Any potential Mashiach must be a direct descendant of King David. (There are many people living today who can trace their lineage back to King David.) In every generation there is a person who potentially could be the Mashiach. When G–d decides the time has arrived, He will bestow upon that individual the necessary powers for him to precipitate that redemption.

*All mankind will worship one G–d and live a more spiritual and moral way of life. The coming of Mashiach will complete G-d’s purpose in creation: for man to make a dwelling place for G-d in the lower worlds.


We are living on the threshold of redemption! And every person living and breathing now can do something to bring Mashiach today and bring an end to the suffering of the world. Every Jew, every non-Jew, every man, every woman, every boy and every girl can participate in this awesome and amazing time of working to bring Mashiach. We can all work as individuals and work together to bring Mashiach!

Here is a list of things we can do to hasten the coming of Mashiach because by doing so the world will become a better place:

-Do not participate in idolatry or pagan practices. Honor and worship only the One True G-d.

-Work every day at growing closer to G-d.

-Do not murder, steal, or curse G-d.

-Avoid cruelty to animals.

-Increase our study of the entire Torah – written, oral, and mystical (particularly sections about Mashiach, the future redemption, and the holy temple.

-Be committed to our families by honoring our marriage vows and being faithful to our husbands or wives and by loving our children and providing a peaceful and nurturing home in which Torah is taught and G-d is worshipped.

-Increase our tzedekah (charitable giving).

-Increase our deeds of chesed (lovingkindness).

-Look for opportunities to help people and be willing to step up and offer the help that is needed.

-Increase our prayer time, both hitbodidut and the prescribed prayers.

-Increase our bikur cholem (visiting the sick).

-Become more humble and modest.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Now that Pesach has ended I lit the havdallah candle, and will now have my first meal with leavened bread.