How a Dermatologist Became One of the Great Jewish Artists of His Generation
3 min read
The name of this week’s Torah portion, Bamidbar, means “in the desert.” It describes the location of where the Jews received the Torah. Our sages ask why would God give the lofty, holy Torah against the backdrop of a barren desert?
Lesson:
While there are many reasons given for why the Torah was given in the desert, one explanation is that a desert is ownerless. For us to receive the Torah, to truly connect and internalize its teachings, we too need to make ourselves ownerless: ownerless of problems, anger, jealousy, ego, negativity and limitations.
Sometimes in life, things happen, and we hold on to them so tightly that they start to shape who we are. We focus on negativity while letting revenge and resentment distort our perspective. We focus on anger and disappointment, inhibiting any semblance of forgiveness and compassion. We feel haughty and proud, leaving no room for God.
When we hold on to negative things, we are incapable of allowing the messages and teachings of the Torah to permeate our being. We have to be open to receiving, otherwise it is like pouring into an already full container. However, when we let go – give our problems back to God – and work through them, we become vessels for receiving and for spiritual growth and development. By making ourselves nothing like the desert, when we make ourselves empty, we are a full vessel, completely available to receive.
And how do we receive? How do we flourish? The actual mountain in the desert that the Jews received the Torah was called Har Sinai, Mount Sinai. Ironically enough, at the time of the giving of the Torah, Har Sinai was laden with beautiful, flourishing flowers and plants! So much so that on Shavuout, the holiday that celebrates receiving the Torah, there is a custom to decorate our homes and Synagogues with flowers.
How did this happen? Because the Torah makes things blossom, even in a barren desert. When we desert those parts of ourselves that limit us from changing and fulfilling our potential, we make room for the Torah’s transformative ability to help us blossom. When we work on transforming our beings, our deserts into Har Sinai’s through the Torah, Mitzvot, and trust in God, we can truly be open vessels to receive the highest blessings and truly flourish, please God.
Exercise: Think of a part of yourself that takes up space from receiving. This could be self-limiting beliefs, shame, anger, impatience, etc. Work on trying to let it go so you can be a better vessel to receive.
