Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

157
בלה תובשחמ
thought alone we can attain great levels of closeness to Hashem and enhance our
performance of mitzvot.
Given that, I would like to pose the following question. Is there any way that I can
be involved in the mitzvah of honoring my parents if my parents are 6000 miles
away from me!?
The Gemara in Berachos 6a asks, “What does ‘and for those who contemplate
His Name’ (Malachi 3:16) mean? Rav Ashi said: Even if a person contemplated
a mitzvah and was unavoidably prevented from performing it, Scripture credits
him as if he fulfilled it.”
The Gemara in Menachos 110a asks, what is the meaning of the verses, “This is
the law of the chatas” (Vayikra 6:18), “This is the law of the asham” (Vayikra 7:1)?
The Gemara answers that whoever is engaged in the study of the Torah of chatas
and asham is regarded as if he offered the chatas and asham.
So I would like to suggest that maybe one way we can be involved in the mitzvah of
honoring one’s parents is through thought. By thinking of ways of performing the
mitzvah of honoring one’s parents, by reading the laws, by thinking of how much
you love your parents, we can participate in this great mitzvah! By anticipating
opportunities, by thinking of ways to perform the commandments, i.e. a chesed
for someone, charity, honoring one’s parents, settling the land of Israel and so on,
we can be involved in the mitzvah even when we are not able to completely fulfill
it, and when we do have the opportunity to perform the mitzvah, the performance
will be enhanced to greater levels.