D'var Torah: "And Dina, the daughter of Leah, who was born to Yaacov, went out to see the daughters of the land" (Bereishis 34:1). Leah's outing resulted in an unspeakable tragedy. Why would her curiosity "to see the daughters of the land" bring about her spiritual downfall? Dina was raised by Yaacov Avinu, who was a great prophet, an incomparable spiritual luminary. Wisdom and holiness illuminated every corner of Yaacov's home and family life. Without a doubt, Dina's upbringing enriched her soul with the great goodness and joy of the living Torah. Yet her lacking to fully grasp the significance of the spiritual treasures of her life drew her to seek the ways of others and brought about her eventual undoing.
Moral: The primary spiritual responsibility of man is to appreciate the great spiritual wealth that surrounds him through his performance of Mitzvot, Torah study, and prayer. The more we recognize the value of our spiritual heritage, the more we are inspired to serve Hashem with joy.
Application: Envision the joy and passion of King David when he engages in Mitzvot and studies Torah. See him sing heartfelt praises to Hashem. Imagine Kind David dancing with all of his energy at the dedication of the Mishkan. Transpose the joy, passion, and love of King David to your heart. Perform your Mitzvot with new meaningfulness, enthusiasm, and heartfelt happiness.
(Based on the commentary of L'techah Elyon and Rav Zeidel Epstein)
