All across the fruited plains, Democrats are savoring their monumental victory. Aside for the historic nature of President-Elect Obama's landslide victory, the Democratic Party scored gains in the Senate and House, and increased their gubernatorial majority too. On the local front, Democratic candidates have rolled into office, in many cases defeating entrenched incumbents—winning loads of mayoralties and positions in municipal and state governments.
A classic example of large coattails atop the ticket.
Obama skillfully energized the nation and excited us with his vision. He recruited an astounding number of our young to campaign on his behalf, and by the millions he motivated us to register to vote. We flocked to the polling stations en masse, causing enormous lines. (On Election Day, I passed a polling station at 6:15 in the morning; the line was already around the block!) Excited by the prospect of change that Obama promises, voters turned out in numbers not seen in at least forty years.
Enthusiastic about Obama, many of these new voters, and many of the veterans too, voted straight Democratic—from the top of the ticket to the bottom. Hence the across-the-board impressive Democratic gains.
"613 mitzvot were given to Israel; came the prophet Habakkuk and based them all on a single one—faith. As it is written: 'a tzaddik lives by his faith' (Habakkuk 2:4)"—Talmud, Makkot 24a.
"This means, it is as if there was only one mitzvah: faith alone. For through faith alone one will come to fulfill all the 613 mitzvot"—Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, Tanya ch. 33.
Mitzvot also have coattails.
When we feel uninspired and not in the mood of anything holy, when we'd rather sit at home and watch TV rather than go to the polling station (synagogue) to register our vote for G‑d, when we find ourselves – as we all do at one time or another –in a spiritual lethargy, the trick is to enthusiastically tackle one mitzvah. Excitement about one mitzvah is infectious; it has the ability to reenergize the rest of the ticket, move you out of your spiritual slump and on the way to a landslide victory. If one is truly enthused and psyched about his faith in G‑d, that alone has the coattails to infuse the rest of his observance with excitement and profound meaning.
But the concept of "mitzvah coattails" isn't only the domain of lofty mitzvot, such as faith.
"Rabbi Yosef asked the son of Rabbah, 'Which mitzvah was your father most careful with?' 'With tzitzit,' the son responded"—Talmud, Shabbat 118b.
Habakkuk suggested faith. Rabbah chose the mitzvah of tzitzit. What's your choice?
