Imagine walking into a store and seeing a beautiful suit on display. It looks perfect, just your style, and you wish you could have it. But what if you had to buy the entire wardrobe—every shirt, every pair of shoes, even the things you don’t like—just to get that one suit? Suddenly, it’s not so appealing.
The commandment “לֹא תַחְמֹד” in Shemot 20:13 is worded in an unusual way, listing specific possessions—one’s house, wife, servant, ox, and donkey—before concluding with “וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ” (“and everything that belongs to your fellow”). If the goal of the commandment is to prohibit jealousy altogether, why not simply state, “Do not covet anything that belongs to your fellow”? The Torah is teaching us a deep truth about human nature: envy does not come in isolation. When we see someone else’s success, we tend to fixate on one specific aspect—wealth, family, career—without considering the full picture of their life. But no one’s life is made up of just one thing. Every person receives a unique, divinely designed package—a combination of blessings and challenges that is perfectly suited to their mission in this world. By listing individual items and then concluding with “וכל אֲשֶׁר לְרֵעֶךָ”, the Torah is emphasizing that you cannot covet one part of another person’s life without being willing to take on the entire reality that comes with it. This concept is especially relevant when looking at the relationship between Israel and the nations of the world. Many countries envy Israel’s technological advancements, economic prosperity, and military strength. They look at the Jewish state and wonder how such a small nation has achieved so much. But what they fail to recognize is that Israel’s success does not exist in a vacuum—it is inseparable from its moral and spiritual foundation. The Jewish people’s achievements are not simply the result of human effort but stem from a deep connection to Torah and the high ethical standard that Hashem demands of us. Just as an individual cannot desire one part of his friend’s life without taking everything that comes with it, the world cannot wish for Israel’s success without acknowledging the sacrifices, challenges, and spiritual commitments that make it possible. The Jewish people have endured centuries of hardship, persecution, and responsibility, and our role as “מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ”—a kingdom of priests and a holy nation—comes with immense obligations. Israel thrives not because of luck or mere political strategy, but because it is rooted in a divine mission. Without Torah, without morality, and without the commitment to Hashem’s purpose, the success that others covet simply would not exist.
When we embrace our own unique mission, we will find true fulfillment—not in what belongs to others, but in the incredible gifts Hashem has given us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Elisha Guberman and the JET Team
