They installed a water meter in my home. Just like that.
This calamity happened about a month ago. The doorbell rang. The man spoke with authority. He had a clipboard with a dangling pen attached to it. "All your neighbors are gettin 'em too," he said. "It's the law!"
Ninety minutes later it was all over. The meter was installed. I didn't cry, but I wanted to. "Now they'll know exactly how much water I'm using," I moaned.
Life, as we knew it, would never be the same again. No more 40-minute showers. No more dripping faucets that I could ignore for months. No more endless water fights for my kids, with the driveway hose. Our long-standing, carefree lifestyle effectively came to an end on that fateful day.
A calamity? Indeed. But maybe it's more than just that.
Let's examine it from a very different angle. If we believe in God - a just God, a loving God, a compassionate God - then we also believe that God is only interested in providing for us, in giving to us. After all, if God is perfect, what could He possibly need or want from us? He has no needs or wants. Perfection, by definition, means that nothing at all is missing! And if there is really nothing that we can provide for God, what then is our purpose here?
If the only thing God "wants" is to give to us, our "job" is to find the best way possible to accept and utilize all the gifts He gives us, and to get the most out of all we receive!.
What is God's method of giving us the maximum fulfillment of every one of life's pleasures? What recipe did He impart to us, that GUARANTEES that we will enjoy and appreciate every avenue of satisfaction and happiness in this world?
In one word...restriction. In two words? Temporary restriction.
I like steak very much. But try having it every night.
Huh?
Surprising as it may seem, restriction is actually the single most important ingredient given to humankind that affords us the greatest opportunity to enjoy every positive experience on this planet.
For instance, I like steak. I like it very much. Rib, fillet, sino, shoulder - you name it. Especially if it is medium rare. But try having it every night. It's just not the same, is it?
Enjoy the Beatles? Metallica? Bach? Just try to listening to them all day...every day.
What happens to your enjoyment level? Is it the same? Does it grow? Is that the premium method for experiencing the maximum amount of enjoyment from the steak? From Metallica? From a roller coaster? A sunset? A vacation? A great web site? A hockey game? Sleeping late in the morning? (O.K. Salomon, now you've gone too far.)
When God bestowed upon us that great instruction manual for living, also known as the Torah, he included in it 613 regulations, also known as commandments. These are the ingredients which, when adhered to, comprise that total recipe for fulfillment on this world. But only 248 of them are positive commandments - things "to do." 365 of them are things not to do. O.K....call them restrictions, if you like. Yes, symbolic of one each day, for every day in our solar year. And along with these instructions are a host of "temporary restrictions," that when adhered to, comprise the greatest blueprint for our greatest enjoyment.
So valuable is this prescription, that you'd be hard pressed to find ANY pleasure in this world that isn't lawfully proscribed, at least temporarily. Why? Not to punish us, restrict us, frustrate or constrict our lifestyle. Quite the contrary! It is rather to make certain that we are pacing ourselves properly, so as not to over-indulge on any single benefit this world has to offer - thereby diluting the excitement and appreciation of each experience.
Experiences potentially damaging to our bodies or souls are always prohibited - even though they might look enticing or fun. Again, because it would interfere with our game plan of getting lasting, maximum pleasure. But even the every day stuff, which is given to us specifically to enjoy, is, at some time, made unavailable for us to experience.
Of course, self-regulation could work too, but "legalized" restriction is a lot more effective (and, therefore, more pleasurable). Suggesting to your kids that they "turn in early" for the next few nights to help them "catch up" on their sleep, might not work quite as well as giving them a temporary curfew and sticking to it.
Parents knows that the worst thing you can do to your child is to never say "No."
For example, not eating bread for a full eight days (Passover) may sound terribly oppressive to some. But anyone experiencing that "first slice of P.P.P. (Post Passover Pizza)" knows how indescribably memorable that can be. It's a fresh appreciation of something we easily become habitually accustomed to.
Numerous others examples come to mind. Music (during periods of personal or national mourning), creative work (Shabbat and holidays), comfortable shelter (Succot), eating (Yom Kippur and other fast days), telephones, video, and computers (Shabbat) are some of the more obvious pleasures which are also temporarily restricted.
A really good parent knows all too well, that the worst thing you can do to your child is to never say, "No," to him. Want a sure-fire way to get him to hate that new set of 'hyper, ergo-dynamic, jumbo, turbo, energized, jet-powered, alpha-omega, quantum, phaser-propelled, prismatic lego? Let him play with it ALL DAY...every day. Then watch his interest fade into cyberspace, or wherever things fade into these days. Life without restriction is, colorless, jaded, and uninspired. Perhaps we are beginning to recognize that setting limits on the things we do, only adds luster, passion, and vigor to the adventure we now call "life.com."
Don't misunderstand me. I do not love my new water meter. But I suppose there is something to say for moderation, accountability, restriction and 8-minute showers. Or am I just getting old?
(18) Marsha Bassel-Holowinko, January 24, 2001 12:00 AM
It makes sense.....
Great article -- a refreshing reminder that it is the restrictions in our lives that grant us the ability to appreciate what we have and how we can grow!
(17) aaron, January 24, 2001 12:00 AM
you are so cool
you really hit the nail on the head. It is so good have a fresh new writer at aish.com . I really hope to see more of you in the future . My office loved it !!!!!!!!
(16) vicky mamieh, January 24, 2001 12:00 AM
enjoyed the author´s style
I enjoyed reading this article, and especially liked the author´s free and easy style. good work.
(15) Albahari, January 24, 2001 12:00 AM
The restriction prescription
Although sceptical about organized religion I was amazed how deep and yet simple these truths are. As a lost member of our great family I lurked in deception until these articles touched something inside me. I'm sure I'll keep on following your articles until I restore myself within the community I belong to. Many thanks! Bojan, Slovenia
(14) , January 23, 2001 12:00 AM
Very nice
As a non-Jew, I found this article very interesting and upbeat. I especially liked this part "He is tolerated at home ..." Very funny, very funny. Thank you, dennis
(13) Emilio Kohn, January 23, 2001 12:00 AM
Other Restrictions in our life
I think that people dont realize that we have many restrictions every day.
For example, I cant go with short trousers to my work (even in summer !!).
But nobody say nothing.
I think we always are slaves. The difference is tah you can be slave of your instincts or slave of G-d.
(12) Ben, January 22, 2001 12:00 AM
Great Article.
Reb Salomon,
That was a wonderful article explaining the idea of why we are honored with Mitzvot! The idea of savoring something, whether it is our passover pizza we have after Peseach, or abstaining from food during Yom Kippur. These Mitzvot are important for keeping us at an even keel so that we may expieriance everything in moderation!
(11) MARCI SIROTA, January 22, 2001 12:00 AM
EXCELLENT ARTICLE
I HAVE NOTICED THIS PHENOMENA OF ENJOYING SOME THINGS MORE AFTER
BEING RESTRICTED TEMPORARILY,
I.E. EVEN CHORES BECOME LIKABLE, AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK ON SHABBAT.
I LAUGHED OUT LOUD AT THE REFERENCE TO PPP--POST PASSOVER PIZZA--HOW ABSOLUTELY
TRUE!!!!
(10) Anonymous, January 22, 2001 12:00 AM
Upbeat and easily digestible
As someone who has been questioning religion, I find these articles upbeat, open minded, easily digestible. They are making me aware for the first time of the true sense of many of our practices. Thanks!
(9) mark norton, January 22, 2001 12:00 AM
the restriction prescription
great and to the point so thank you rav Salomon. I would love to see something similar on anger - regards, mark
(8) Anonymous, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
THE RESTRICTION PERSCRIPTION
Mr Salomon has written an article that is very true, very well written and very
light hearted. I realy enjoyed reading it.
(7) Anonymous, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Simply too good an article! No, it's just right.
"Rx Restriction" is a wonderful article. It's so delightful, it would be useful as a teaching tool for kids and those curious about "Why so Many Laws?" A-Plus (and keep up the good) Work!
(6) Anonymous, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
As someone who grew up frum I was asked this question many many times. I was never able to explain it as well as Rav Salomon.
Thanx for a great article
(5) Beverly Kurtin, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Shabbat exictment
A few months ago I began shutting off my computers when it was time to light the Shabbat candles. I keep them off until Shabbat is over. Instead of feeling restricted, I felt liberated!
I eagerly look forward to Shabbat with the same intensity that I look forward to, what?, a new grandchild? a wedding? Some other wonderful event? Yes, all of that and more. But something was missing and this article hit the nail on the head.
With my computers off I am not tempted to leave off attending services, to put off studying the week's parasha, just pressing the off button on my UPS has turned on the light of Shabbat with an intensity I'd not thought possible.
Oy! I could go on and on, but until you take the step toward keeping Mitzvot yourself, you can't imagine the joy it can bring.
Shalom
(4) Joe Moses, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Great article, should we limit?
Salomon, in his debut article did such a great job, no doubt his future articles will also be superb. Perhaps Aish might consider limiting them and him so that we might appreciate future essays even more? Just a thought.
(3) L.A. Fortune, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Just great wisdom
Thank you Rabbi for putting this in a sometimes humorous and yet causing self reflection on how the excesses of our lives rarely bring us true pleasure, and if we are honest with ourselves, never constructive or lasting pleasure. I forwarded this to my grown children whom can sometimes be reflective. Thank you again.
(2) Sheerli Veg, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
why restrictions are beneficial
I always knew that the Torah was given to us for our benefit and not to make us "suffer from restrictions" , and this article really put it together for me clearly and matter-of-factly. Thank you Rabbi Salomon!
(1) Gillian Kirkpatrick, January 21, 2001 12:00 AM
Great!
I really enjoy your outlook on Torah, it gives a whole new way of seeing things. Thank you for such an interesting approach to a today understanding of Torah. Gillian