This week's Torah portion, Pinchas

This week's Torah portion, Pinchas, details the manner in which the land of Israel was to be apportioned between the Twelve Tribes. The Torah states: "According to the mouth of the lot shall the inheritance of each be divided."

The lot determined which section of the Land of Israel each tribe would inhabit. It was not a rational process, but a method of dividing the land in which no logical reasoning was apparent. According to Chasidic philosophy, the physical plane of existence is a reflection of its higher spiritual source. It follows, therefore, that just as the division of the Land of Israel was accomplished by means of a lot, so too are certain aspects of a Jew's spiritual service determined in a super-rational manner.

To explain: Every Jew is obligated to keep all of the Torah's mitzvot (commandments). However, certain commandments are more pertinent to some individuals than to others. We are told of various Sages of long ago who were especially scrupulous in their performance of one mitzva (commandment). Of course, being righteous people, they observed all the Torah's commandments. But one mitzva was more personally relevant than all the rest. How do we explain this?

That a particular mitzva has special significance for a given individual is not something that can be explained rationally; the person himself doesn't necessarily perceive that this is so, either. In truth, it is a matter that transcends intellectual understanding, just like the process of choosing by lot. Indeed, the particular mitzva that is most relevant to each of us is determined from Above.

The Jew's function in life is to be especially careful in that one area, and to observe that mitzva to the best of his ability. The simplest way to determine which mitzva is the most vital to us personally is by examining the relative ease or difficulty we encounter in observing it.
As a general rule, the mitzva we find the most difficult to fulfill is the one that is most imperative on a personal level. In fact, the hardship we experience is proof of this, as the evil inclination, recognizing the mitzva's special significance, will spare no effort in trying to deter us. The machinations of the evil inclination increase in direct proportion to the mitzva's importance.

The lesson to be learned is tremendous. Whenever we find it exceptionally difficult to do a certain mitzva, or it seems that the effort required of us is greater than that required of other people, it is forbidden to throw up our hands in defeat. On the contrary, we must try even harder in that one area, as it is most relevant to us personally. Indeed, the mitzva for which we must overcome the greatest number of obstacles is the one which can be said to have fallen to our lot.

Adapted for Maayan Chai from Likutei Sichot, Vol. 2