Remaining Separate and Distinct

After reviewing numerous laws in last week’s two Parshiot, the Torah tells us that one of the purposes of these laws, is that Hashem made a separation between the Jewish people and the other nations. Rashi elaborates on this idea by explaining that we remain separate and distinct by submitting to the demands of the Torah, whether we agree with them or not. This is where this most important principle is brought. גדול המצוה ועושה משאינו מצוה ועושה. This means that it is far greater to do a Mitzva that we are commanded, rather than a Mitzva we are not commanded. One might think he gets more credit for doing something voluntarily, that he didn’t really have to do. But the reverse is true. We get more credit for observing those commandments that we disagree with, than agree with. We are not meant to observe the Torah because we agree with it. We observe the Torah because it is Hashem’s wish that we observe it. When we submit our will to Hashem’s will, only then will we remain a separate and unique people among the nations.