“Ask the Rabbi” Any Jewish Question with Rabbi Shmuel Greenwald Here’s Today’s Question!
June 20, 2026
Rabbi, it’s always bothered me that there seems to be a lot of minutiae in Judaism. Every holiday has a lot of laws, what’s kosher to eat, what blessing should I make over various types of foods? It doesn’t seem spiritual?
In Judaism, spirituality is not about escaping the physical world. Rather, it is about elevating the physical and transforming ordinary actions into opportunities for connection with the Almighty. We take the material things of this world and use them for a higher purpose.
For example, wax candles are, by themselves, ordinary objects. Yet, when we light Shabbat or holiday candles, they become instruments of peace, holiness, and connection to Hashem. Through a simple physical act, something mundane becomes spiritual.
The same principle applies to the details of Jewish life. The more we care about something, the more attention we pay to its details. A person might do an occasional favor for a friend, but when it comes to a spouse, they are attentive to countless small things: What foods does my spouse enjoy? What activities make them happy? What gestures are meaningful to them? The details matter because the relationship matters.
Love is expressed through attentiveness. The “little things” are not a burden; they are often the greatest expression of care.
Our relationship with the Almighty is no different. The many details of mitzvot are opportunities to express our love, commitment, and awareness of His presence in every aspect of life. What may seem like minutiae is actually the language of a close relationship. Through the small things, we sanctify the ordinary, and ultimately discover that the small things are what shape the big things.
Have a Jewish question? We’d love to hear it! Ever wondered about something in Judaism? Curious about a Torah idea, Jewish tradition, holidays, prayer, relationships, or life’s bigger questions? Your question can be completely anonymous, or, if you’d like, we may feature your question (first name optional!) in an upcoming “Ask the Rabbi” post so others can learn along with you. Submit your question to sgreenwald@aishstl.com
