A person once came to a Rabbi and started mocking Judaism for all of
its laws. The man said there are so many laws that there are even
laws about using a restroom. The Rabbi responded by stating not only
does Judaism have laws about using a restroom, but there is nothing in
the world that does not have a law.

My freshman year at Brandeis University, Yitzchak Rabin was
assassinated. The Brandeis Coalition of Peace organized a rally in
Copley Square in Boston, and since I was a peacenik during this period
of my life, I decided to attend. It was a beautiful rally. One line
from the rally stuck out in my mind. One of the speakers said,
“Twenty years ago we had a similar rally for peace in Copley Square.
Unfortunately we have all forgotten that rally. Let’s not forget this
one.” I returned to Brandeis that night very inspired to bring peace.
I walked around the whole the next day telling people that we have to
bring peace, but no one wanted to listen. Eventually, my inspiration
left and I began to become very depressed. It seemed like no one
wanted peace in this world.

Let’s fast forward a few months when I started learning more about
being an observant Jew. I started learning the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
and about all different types of halachos (Jewish laws) and found
something amazing. I found that what the Rabbi mentioned to the
heretic was definitely true: there is nothing in the world that does
not have a law for it. There were laws about everything from foods
that I should not place under my bed to opening a door from a dark
room into one with a light to putting on my shoes to how I can speak
to other people. I found details to every little movement.

After I thought about this for a while, I think I am starting to
understand why this is so. It is to give us a constant focus so we do
not forget our job in life. Every single moment we do something, we
need to think am I allowed to do this or am I doing this correctly.
We need to focus on G-d and what G-d wants us to do.

The rally I attended my freshman year at college was very
inspirational, but there was one huge problem: inspiration only lasts
for a short time if it is not constantly reinforced. It is like a
fire: once the gas runs out, the fire goes out. But if the fire
constantly has gas being added to it, the fire will never go out.
This is Judaism. We have laws for everything so that we always remain
focused. Sometimes these laws might look like a burden, but they are
there for us for a very good reason. It is so we do not forget of why
we were put on this planet. It is so we do not forget that there is
G-d!

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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