Chavakuk and the Alter Rebbe

613 commandments is a large number to remember. Chavakuk the prophet was nice enough to narrow it down to one. He said, just believe, everything else will fall into place.

In the words of the Talmud: “613 Mitzvahs were given to the Israelites, Chavakuk came and placed them on one, ‘a righteous man will leave by his belief’”. Quite an accomplishment, we need only focus on the belief, and that will support all the rest of the commandments.

The Alter Rebbe, surprisingly, says never mind the belief, Chavakuk was talking about the joy that is the by-product of belief. The foundation and support of all 613 commandments, of the Jewish lifestyle, is the joy that comes from the belief that Hashem is always with us. We are always connected, never lonely.

Often you may see people whose belief doesn’t lead them to acting on all 613 commandments. I doubt you can find someone who feels the thrill of being with G-d, whose not actively pursuing all the 613 ways of hanging out with Hashem.

It’s not about belief, it’s about how happy and energetic your belief makes you.

(Tanya chapter 33)