Caution! This is How People Observe Commandments—and Miss the Purpose of Our Lives (Part 2)

Many who are strengthening their faith do not enter formal religious study either because they have families or for other reasons. There is a crucial point to be aware of and align ourselves accordingly.

When in one's usual environment, not living alongside Torah observant people, and not experiencing or seeing a Torah lifestyle up close, the person strengthening their faith doesn't get a reference point for their spiritual levell and there is no benchmark to compare their spiritual state. While comparison is often frowned upon, in the world of Torah, it can be very positive and inspiring, as our sages said: "The envy of scholars increases wisdom." This form of positive envy encourages us to grow and improve, pushes us forward, and inspires us, without involving jealousy of another's success.

Someone who is becoming stronger in faith may wholeheartedly believe they are at a high spiritual level, when in reality, it's not quite so. They may still be living in the same regular bubble and do not grasp what it truly means to be Torah observant. They do not gain new insights into what a Torah life entails, in its deep, truest sense.

The ultimate goal of Torah and mitzvot is to guide the transformation of a person's essence and to make them a being of Torah in their entirety. One can wear tzitzit, lay tefillin every day, and pray three times a day, yet internally remain exactly the same, thus missing the entire purpose. Only when one fulfills Torah and mitzvot with a sincere and genuine intention to become better and more spiritual, by investing mental effort and work, can they truly change and become a 'Ben-Torah' (child of the Torah).

When living among Torah observant people and witnessing up close the mentality, way of speaking, behavior, customs, what is acceptable to say and do, and what is not – different concepts are formed about what it means to be a 'child of the Torah'.

Make no mistake- keeping Shabbat and kashrut, praying three times a day, and listening to Torah lessons truly impacts a person. It is repentance; it involves sacrifices and effort, and creates a connection with Hashem. But ultimately the Torah aims to transform us into another essence, in all our being. This usually comes about through more internal work – refining one's attributes and striving to adopt values and positive traits, limiting excessive indulgences, building a higher personality, and transforming our internal essence.

Being Torah observant means being prepared to roll up your sleeves and work mentally, be it in kindness or Torah study or refining one's attributes, or in any aspect of serving Hashem. It means working on the ability to give and see others, even when it sometimes requires great sacrifice. It requires willingness to give up certain comforts for a spiritual ideal, overcoming excessive indulgences and vanity and investing time in valuable matters instead of trivial or materialistic things or aimless screen time. It's about looking inside oneself, appreciating the good qualities within, and being honest enough to point out spiritual goals where improvement is needed.