Do Not Covet

The last of the Ten Commandments is לא תחמוד, that we should not covet. It is interesting to note that when the commandments are repeated a second time, the language changes.

In פרשת ואתחנן, the Torah says, לא תחמוד ולא תתאווה, that one should not covet, nor lust after, his friend’s possessions.

Some explain that the תחמוד leads a person to take actions that will allow him to “acquire” that which does not belong to him.

One such example would be to force his neighbor to sell something that is not for sale. The sale takes place because the neighbor does not wish to be harmed. The “purchaser” puts him through this because of his coveting that item.

The לא תתאווה of ואתחנן, refers more to a kind of lusting in one’s heart. This could be worse than the לא תחמוד, because this “lusting” can turn to obsession that gives that luster no rest. He is consumed by his feelings that he must have what his neighbor has. Because of this, despite what he possesses himself, he has no peace of mind. How sad.

There opinions that if one cannot overcome these jealous feelings, he may be violating two separate Mitzvot. One is לא תחמוד and the other is לא תתאווה.

The Meam Loez, writes that it is essential that we learn to be שמח בחלקו, happy with our own lot in life. There are always individuals who have more than us. But there also many, who have less. If we learn to appreciate what we have, and not look at what others have, we will gain so much.

Not only will we be happier and have peace of mind, but it will greatly increase our אהבת ה׳, love of G-d. How could we not love the One who gives us everything we need?

Jealousy is so destructive in so many ways. Appreciating what we have, leads to so much positive and constructive things.