Why not add to the mitzvos?

We spoke of why we are forbidden to add mitzvos? One explanation was that if you mess around with the mitzvos by adding to them, you may go on to subtract from them.

Another suggestion was that a perfect thing needs no improvements. By ‘improving’ upon the mitzvos we show disrespect for them, in that we consider them imperfect.

Another thought was that fiddling with the mitzvos is inherently disrespectful and patronizing, for we are then acting as though the mitzvos were our possesion. They are really not ours to toy with; rather they are directives from Him!

The Sforno explains, that in our poor wisdom we may come to add elements that are antithetical to the Torah, ideas borrowed from other cultures (The prohibition against adding Mitzvos is hard on the heels of the prohibition against adopting foreign practices in our worship of Hashem, and indeed, the juxtaposition of the two suggest this explanation).

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