Vayeishev - World of Action

[barbara1]

In the Sefer HaChinuch it says "know and recognize that a person is affected by what he does."   Your heart is a reflection of your deeds.   You can have negative thoughts but still be involved in a life of Torah and mitzvot.   Eventually you will be affected by your positive actions.    This is a tremendous challenge - changing our thoughts.    We have a korban that we need to bring for our negative thoughts.    We need to also ask Hashem to open our hearts and to help us change our negative thoughts into positive ones.

[Jenna1]

In the class, Mrs. Smiles talks about doing a mitzva completely and with a happy heart.  My question is - how do you know if you've done a mitzva completely?  I feel like I can always think of additional actions to take to make the mitzva better - but then it can just be overwhelming.  For example, having guests.  We had 13 people for Shabbos lunch, but there were a few more people I would have liked to invite or that it would have been nice to invite.  Or, I could have called each of my guests and asked what they liked to eat, or what their allergies were.  I'm wondering if there is a "line" that can be crossed in doing too much.  And if so, then how do you know you've done the mitzva completely?

Thank you!
jenna

[Hadassa1]

Jenna, I have the same question. I wonder if there are guiding principles for us to think about while doing a mitzvah to ensure that are performing it completely (although the happiness aspect may not be quantifiable).

[Edith1]

I think that the quantity of people that were invited or asking them what they would like to eat are not the important part of the mitzvah.  What makes it most complete is that you invited them and were thinking about them.  That the experience at your shabbat table was the best shabbas experience you could do for them.  That doesn't mean what they ate or how beautiful your shabbas table looked.  It is the shabbas feeling and what they gained by the experience.  If you created the best shabbas experience that YOU could, and everyone felt elevated and enriched that would be perfecting the mitzvah.

It is very upifting to think that what we do on our own level could effect future generations and bring the mashiach.

[Jenna1]

I completely understand and agree with your answer.  But my question is more of - where do you draw the line on doing a mitzva?  I can always think of something extra to do, or another person to invite, another person to help - and it's a mitzva to do so.  But, when is it too much?

Thanks!
jenna