HEAVY LIFTING 

When Rachie and I were first married, we lived in Jerusalem while I was studying at the Mir Yeshiva. One day, I arrived at an apartment building to visit a friend. At the same time, a van pulled up, and the driver proceeded to unload a fridge destined for a resident on the third floor. I stood, aghast, wondering how the driver, a middle-aged Russian oleh barely over five feet tall, would get the fridge up all those stairs without a lift. Could I offer to help? Should I? I would probably do my back in! Before I could react, the driver produced a harness, secured it around the fridge, put it on, and climbed the stairs with the fridge on his back. 

Watching him, I realized that what seemed impossible became manageable with the right tool. This reminded me of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch’s explanation of a yoke in relation to mitzvot. 

Rabbi Hirsch, the great 19th-century leader of German Jewry, explains that we often view a yoke as a heavy burden. In reality, it is a tool that allows us to carry much heavier loads than we could otherwise. Just as a bricklayer’s hod, an ox’s yoke, or a fridge carrier’s harness makes their tasks possible, the yoke of mitzvot helps us carry life’s burdens. 

Jewish tradition, far from being a heavy burden, actually strengthens us. Many have told me that shiva helped them process grief in ways they never imagined. The rhythm of Jewish life—emphasizing Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim (Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness)—has given Jews worldwide a framework to function, and even flourish, during difficult times. 

A Midrash on this week’s parash reinforces this idea. It describes Moses descending Mt. Sinai with the two stone tablets engraved by G-d. Upon seeing the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf, the letters miraculously ‘fly off’ the stones, leaving Moses carrying blank slabs that suddenly become too heavy to bear, forcing him to smash them (Midrash Tanchuma). 

The Midrash suggests that the divine words gave the tablets their spiritual and even physical lightness. Once the letters vanished, they became mere stone—lifeless and impossible to carry. Torah is not a burden; rather, it lightens our load by giving life meaning. 

The ongoing existence of the Jewish people, despite centuries of persecution, proves this truth. Torah empowers us to rise above life’s challenges. Like the harness that transformed an impossible task into an achievable one, the yoke of mitzvot gives us the strength and stability to carry our burdens with confidence. With Torah as our support, we are never alone in our struggles—we are uplifted, guided, and strengthened. No matter what challenges we face, we can stand tall, knowing that we are equipped not just to endure but to thrive.