Timeless Torah

These next two sections in the Torah deal with issues resulting from being in a state of war. Among the specific issues are the kohen who exhorted the people not to fear the enemy, a delineation of who was exempt from the fighting, details of how a siege should be conducted, and the subsequent treatment of certain captives. Surprisingly enough, in the midst of all this warfare, which is by its very nature destructive, the Torah demands that we do not destroy the local trees of the cities we are besieging.
In truth, this commandment is not limited to trees in the heat of battle, but is extended by our Sages to not waste anything needlessly. This Biblical passage is then making a powerful statement. The world, it is declaring, is not ours to squander as we wish. It is G-d’s.
Yes it is true that the Creator bequeathed to us this physical dimension of time and space; to use, to enjoy, and even to dominate. But the universe still belongs to He who said and it came to be.
But the idea of not wasting goes much further. It especially applies to Hashem’s most valuable gift. The one we have a very limited supply of, irrespective of our being rich or poor. The one we cannot plant, but only harvest. The one we see so much of and thus take for granted.
Time. Think about it. We talk about ‘killing time’. Killing! That’s a pretty strong word. But actually, it makes a lot of sense. When we think about how valuable and irreplaceable each minute is, wasting time that can never be regained is tantamount to killing it.
With that said, let me digress and review another common phrase, “Do you have a free minute?” No minute was, is, or ever will, be free. You pay for it, either in the present, or at some future date.
If you still don’t get the picture, let me give it to you this way. Imagine a bank, a very unusual bank. Each morning, rain or shine, they credit your account. You are not required to make any deposits. This is not a loan whereby at the end of the term you have to pay back the money. And this is definitely not a scam, but a legitimate business deal with a company that has been around a long time.
So how much exactly of this no-strings-attached money does this bank transfer into your account? One thousand four hundred and forty dollars! So enjoy. It’s yours to spend.
There is however one condition. Whatever is left at the end of the day is erased. No balance is carried over. However, your benevolent banker is going to repeat his actions the very next morning. That’s right. The following day he will deposit another $1440, with the same conditions.
Now if this scenario sounds too good to be true, you must be aware that the money won’t roll into your account forever. One day, and possibly without warning, this manna from heaven will cease.
So what would you do with that account? You would make sure to use every single penny, every day. Understandably, as you would want to get the most out of it.
Well guess what? There is indeed such a bank, and you have already used its services. The Banker is none other than Hashem Himself and the funds that He is distributing are Time. One thousand four hundred and forty minutes of time to be exact. That’s what He is freely giving away and that is what we receive... every single day.
They’re ours to use. And what we don’t use…is lost. Forever. Because one day, perhaps without warning… I am sure you got the picture.
The last month of the Jewish calendar, Elul, is at hand and the piercing blasts of the shofar are waking us up from our lethargy. It’s abundantly clear that the annual clock is ticking and that this year’s time is running out. Next year’s funds are still in the balance. Don’t let the Banker think you’re a bad investment.