There are mitzvot between human beings and God. There are mitzvot between human beings and each other. Both categories help refine and develop our character. But there is a third, often overlooked category of mitzvot: mitzvot between a person and themselves.
What does this category look like?
The category addresses the ways we think about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth. When you think or speak about your place in the world, do you denigrate yourself or elevate your purpose? This category involves self-respect, carefully and meticulously shaping a life that protects one’s soul.
Commenting on guarding one’s soul, the Orchot Tzadikim, mussar (ethical teachings) from the Middle Ages, explains that “high fences are needed in order that one should not forget the Torah.” Meaning, when Torah is put at the center of your life, your soul flourishes. But when we let Torah fall, when ethical, moral living is no longer safeguarded, our souls diminish in this process. The goal is to create a Torah-filled existence that upholds our individual needs and dignity. We must put up fences to protect the lives we know we are meant to live. These fences and boundaries are not selfish; they’re holy.
Honoring oneself does not mean ignoring God or the community. Honoring oneself, creating sacred boundaries, and cultivating self-worth allows a human being to better engage with the world.
When we protect our own soul, there is a better chance we will understand when someone else protects their own.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Nicole Guzik is senior rabbi at Sinai Temple. She can be reached at her Facebook page at Rabbi Nicole Guzik or on Instagram @rabbiguzik. For more writings, visit Rabbi Guzik’s blog section from Sinai Temple’s website.
