Gentle Reminders

Parshas Shlach

Posted on May 31, 2010 (5770) By Rabbi Naftali Reich | Series: Legacy | Level: Beginner

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.