Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

186
בלה תובשחמ
of a mitzva based upon what we perceive the reason of the mitzva to be. In fact,
this fundamental point may be what makes the phrase “na’aseh ve-nishma” such
an appropriate way to accept the Torah; “we will do” precedes and is independent
of the “hearing,” which implies understanding.
Now we can go back and understand the Rashi we started with. At the beginning
of the parsha, Rashi is talking about our response to the nations of the world and
to our own yetzer ha-ra, who pressure us to stop observing mitzvot altogether.
Our response to that attack must be that the mitzvot are gezeirot melech, and we
are loyal to them simply because God commanded them. Nothing else, including
ta’amei ha-mitzvot, are necessary or relevant in explaining our dedication to
mitzvot. Once that dedication is established, we can seek to understand the
deeper meaning of the mitzvot, which can only serve to enhance our religious
experience.