Parshas Toldos: Self-Destructiveness as the Litmus Test for True L'sheim Shamayim

Rabbi Zweig addresses a fundamental existential question: How can a person determine whether his actions are truly l'sheim shamayim (for the sake of Heaven) or self-deception? It is remarkably easy to convince ourselves that destructive actions are mitzvos—from killing someone deemed a rodef to public criticism disguised as tochacha. The challenge is acute because our subjective hurt feelings can masquerade as religious conviction. The shiur builds its answer on several sources. First, from the Sifri on Parshas Va'eschanan: The Torah (תורה) says that when we observe mitzvos properly, the nations will call us wise and understanding (Devarim 4:6). Rashi (רש"י) explains that if we forget or distort the Torah, the nations will call us shotim (fools). But how can non-Jews, who don't know Torah, judge whether we're performing mitzvos correctly? The Mishna in Avos resolves this: the passuk refers to someone who once learned Torah but failed to guard it—ma'abed ma shenosno lo (one who loses what was given to him). This is the halachic definition of a shoteh.