Gentle
Reminders
Parshas Shlach
The universal image of the devout Jew is a praying
figure wrapped in a tallis, but it is not the tallis that is significant.
Rather, it is the long fringes on each of its four corners. At the conclusion
of this week’s Torah portion, we read that these fringes were to be dyed a
particular shade of blue called techeiles. What was the significance of this
particular shade of blue?
The Talmud explains: “Because techeiles is
reminiscent of the sea, and the sea is reminiscent of the sky, and the sky is
reminiscent of the Kiseh Hakavod, Hashem’s celestial throne.” Wearing
techeileth, therefore, draws the mind to thoughts of Hashem and is a source of
constant inspiration.
The questions immediately arise: Why do we
need any memory devices at all to remind us of Hashem? Why doesn’t the Torah
simply command us to think of Hashem continuously?
Furthermore, why does the Torah choose
techeiles which reminds us of Hashem in such a roundabout way? Why doesn’t the
Torah simply choose a color directly associated with Him?
The commentators point out that our natural
tendency of people is to connect what we see with whatever is dear to our
hearts. Thus, a businessman spotting a piece of paper on the ground will think
of the problems of waste disposal, the new technologies, the investment
opportunities in companies active in this field. A policeman spotting the same
piece of paper will think of the littering laws, zero tolerance policies,
litterbug fines. An environmentalist will think of the tree that was cut down to
produce this piece of paper which was so casually discarded. The businessman,
the policeman, the environmentalist may all have been walking along absorbed in
totally unrelated thoughts. But that little deviation from the ordinary, the
simple piece of paper lying on the ground, pulls each one out of his reverie
and sets him off in his own individual direction along the route that is dear
to his heart.
In this light, the commentators explain the
rationale behind techeiles. The Torah does not make unrealistic demands of us.
The Torah realizes full well that no matter how spiritual we want to be, no
matter how much we would like think of Hashem, we still live in the mundane
world. We have to earn a living and pay the mortgage and take care of the
children, and we cannot realistically expect to keep our minds focused on
Hashem at all times.
If, however, we truly yearn to be connected
with Him, if we harbor a strong love for Him deep in our hearts, then a few
gentle reminders here and there will bring Him squarely back into our thoughts.
Therefore, the Torah does not simply command us to think of Hashem at all
times. It is too much to expect of us amid the sea of distractions in which we
live. Instead, the Torah tells us to keep a symbol with us at all times, a symbol
which will remind us of Hashem with just a brief glance.
To accomplish this purpose most effectively, the
Torah does not choose a symbol directly associated with Hashem. Rather, the
Torah chooses a fairly simple symbol which can insinuate itself easily into the
mad rush of daily life, a shade of blue that reminds us of the sea. But once
the chain of thought is set in motion, our natural tendencies take over. That
flash of blue sets us to thinking, and if there is a true love for Hashem deep
in our hearts, our thoughts will naturally turn to Him. If the heart is set in
a good direction, the mind is sure to follow. But the converse is also true.
A great sage was visiting an art gallery, and he
saw a large redfaced man protesting vigorously in front of a colorful abstract
painting.
“How can you display such lewd art?” the angry man
yelled.
Intrigued, the sage drew closer and looked at the
painting.
“My good fellow,” he said. “This is a wonderful
painting. It is a warm representation of a mother soothing a distraught child.
The lewd images you see on the canvas are a reflection of the lewd images that
occupy your own mind.”
In our own lives, we are all caught up in the
dynamics of our daily existence, continuously distracted by financial,
familial, social, emotional and all sorts of other concerns that make up the
fabric of our lives. Under these circumstances, it is very easy to forget about
Hashem. But if He has a permanent place in our hearts, if deep down we
recognize and acknowledge that life has no meaning without a strong
relationship with Him, then we will inevitably find myriad symbols everywhere
that will nudge us gently back on track and bring Him back into our thoughts.
Text Copyright © 2010 by Rabbi Naftali Reich
and Torah.org.
Rabbi Reich is on the faculty of the Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum Education Center.
The
Common Thread
Parshas Shlach
Posted on June 3, 2010 (5770) By Rabbi Label Lam | Series: Dvar Torah | Level: Beginner
But the men who ascended with them said, “We
cannot ascend to that people for it is too strong for us!” They brought forth
to the Children of Israel an evil report on the Land that they had spied out,
saying, “The Land through which we have passed to spy it out, is a Land that
devours its inhabitants! All the people we saw in it were huge! There we saw
the Nephilim, the sons of the giant from among the Nephilim; we were like
grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes!” (Bamidbar 13:31-33)
What does it say about the spies that they
included in their report that they felt- “like grasshoppers” in “their own
eyes” and in “their eyes”? What type of subjective evidence is this? How do
they know how they are perceived in the eyes of the inhabitants? What does it
matter? What was their tragic flaw? Maybe we can determine from the cure, from
the medicine prescribed at the very end of the Parsha what was the fault, the
disease at the beginning.
HASHEM said to Moshe saying: “Speak to the
Children of Israel and say to them that they shall make for themselves Tzistzis
on the corners of their garments, throughout their generations. And they shall
place upon the Tzistzis of each corner a thread of turquoise wool. It shall
constitute Tzitzis for you that you may see it and remember all the
Commandments of HASHEM and perform them; and not explore after your heart and
after your eyes after which you stray. So you may remember and perform all My
Commandments, and be holy to your G-d. I am HASHEM your G-d, who has removed you
from the Land of Egypt to be a G-d unto you; I am HASHEM. (Bamidbar 14:37-40)
It seems, the remedy involves “seeing” or
“perceiving” differently. That’s the part of the psyche that needs continuous
prompting. Tzistzis are for all generations and for some reason are meant to
remind of HASHEM’s Mitzvos and that we were taken from Egypt!
This past Shevuos at a hotel program there was a
symposium about “Jewish Outreach”, and the floor was open for questions. A fine
gentleman raised his hand and asked the ensemble of Rabbis in the front of the
auditorium, “While walking home from Shul on Shabbos I sometimes see a Jewish
neighbor who is involved in a garage sale. He’s not doing anything related to
Shabbos. What should I do Rabbis? Should I wish him a “good Shabbos” or just
leave him be and walk on by?”
The Rabbis exchanged glances until one felt
compelled to answer. He cleared his throat and hesitatingly said, “Let me tell
you a story! A few years back I was walking in Kew Gardens in Queens on Shabbos
on my way to Shul when my eyes met a man in a cherry picker high up amongst the
wires doing his work. I said to him, “good Shabbos” and a conversation ensued.
Since then we have become the best of friends. He became Shomer Shabbos and now
his entire family is involved in the learning and teaching of Torah.” The Rabbi
stopped abruptly, “That’s all I’m gonna say!” The answer was clear and
definitive and the audience was sufficiently impressed with the possibilities
in simply wishing someone a friendly “good Shabbos”, but that’s not the end of
the story.
Later this Rabbi who gave the answer came over and
told me an amazing and curious piece of information. The fellow who asked that
question was the man in the cherry picker. Amazing! How can someone forget a
true historical fact like that?
The Torah tells us the very same thing, so to
speak, “Don’t worry about managing results! Honor the process! That’s the
nature of partnerships- being to you a G-d. You remember to do all the
Mitzvos-what you are Commanded to do, and remember daily I took you out of
Egypt. You stay focused on your job and I’ll do Mine. That just may be the
common thread!
DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam
and Torah.org.
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