Infinite Depths: Elevating Our Mitzvot Beyond Obligation

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The Gemara¹ reveals that there are 613 commandments in the Torah; however, Rabbeinu Bahya² deepens our understanding by highlighting that this count is merely the beginning. He explains as follows:

These 613 commandments are general principles, as the details of the commandments have no end or limit. Reason dictates this, for since the commandments are divine and all point to the necessity of His existence and knowledge through His ways and actions, just as we cannot grasp a limit to our understanding of His actions, so too there is no limit to the details of the commandments.

Thus, King David, peace be upon him, intended when he said³, ‘I have seen an end to all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad,’ indicating that everything has an end, but the commandments have no end. Therefore, each commandment among the 613 is general, and each one encompasses many commandments, and collectively they are without end.

Since the mitzvot come from Hashem, who is infinite, it naturally follows that each commandment is rich with infinite depth and meaning. This invites us to delve deeper into our understanding, allowing us to continually discover new insights and strive to fulfill the mitzvot to an ever-greater degree.

From Floor to Ceiling

Rav Soloveitchik beautifully summarized this idea by stating, “Halakhah is not a ceiling but a floor.” This means that there is no limit to how much we can learn about the commandments or how deeply we can engage with them in practice.

The Torah provides a basic, minimal standard that establishes foundational moral behavior. However, approaching the Torah merely as a checklist—marking off each commandment as completed—misses the deeper intention behind these sacred laws. It reduces the mitzvot to mere tasks rather than expressions of our relationship with the Hashem.

Every mitzvah is like a gemstone with many facets. To give an example, imagine two people holding the same diamond—one simply sees its surface, while the other carefully examines each angle, appreciating the way the light reflects off each facet, revealing hidden depths. Both are holding the same object, but the one who engages more deeply uncovers a richness that was always there. Similarly, fulfilling a mitzvah is not just about performing the action; it’s about the depth of our engagement with it, the attention we give to its nuances, and the intention we bring to our practice.

From Duty to Devotion

These ideas connect directly to the teaching of the Ramchal in Mesillat Yesharim⁴:

It is known which mitzvot are binding on every Jew and the extent their obligation reaches. But he who truly loves the Creator, blessed be He, will not strive and intend to discharge himself with the known obligations binding on every Jew. Rather, what will happen to him is the same as that of a son who loves his father. Even if his father reveals a slight indication of something he desires, already the son will strive greatly, to the best of his ability, to fulfill this thing or service. Even though the father merely mentioned it once and only halfway, this will be enough for such a son to understand the direction of his father’s intent and to do for him even what he did not say explicitly. For he can deduce on his own that this thing will bring pleasure to his father, and he will not wait until his father commands him more explicitly or tells him another time.

This dynamic, where love inspires one to go beyond the minimum, is not limited to the relationship between parent and child; it can be observed in any deep, loving connection—between friends, spouses, or anyone bound by genuine affection. True love drives the beloved not to ask, “How little can I do?” but instead, “How much can I do to bring joy to the one I love?”

In the same way, a person who truly loves Hashem will not limit themselves to merely fulfilling the commandments as they are explicitly stated. Instead, they will see each mitzvah as an invitation to deepen their understanding of His will. When they observe a commandment, they will not simply think, “I have done my duty,” but will ask, “How can I expand upon this? How can I fulfill this mitzvah with greater depth, creativity, and devotion?” This mindset allows them to expand the mitzvah in ways they intuitively know will be pleasing to G-d, even in areas not explicitly outlined in the Torah. Such a person, according to the Ramchal, is one who gives true pleasure to their Maker.

Thus, we are encouraged to approach each mitzvah with a mindset of growth and aspiration. After fulfilling Hashem’s will, we should take a moment to reflect, to look up, and think about how we can refine our practice. This perspective invites us to ask ourselves: How can we polish what we’ve done? How can we elevate our performance next time?

We begin on the ground floor of our spiritual journey, but we must recognize that there is always more to explore. This journey of refinement is ongoing; it’s about cultivating an attitude of continuous improvement and deeper understanding. Each mitzvah invites us to engage with it fully, to explore its nuances, and to find new ways to express our devotion and commitment.

Makkot 23b ↩︎
Bereishit 1:1 ↩︎
Tehillim 119:96 ↩︎
Chapter 18 – Midat HaChasidut ↩︎