Canada Is No Longer Safe for Jews
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Recall a time when you felt really inspired. Did the stirring words of a great speaker touch your heart? Perhaps you were inspired by someone who beat great odds. Each of us experiences inspiration differently, as a unique but short-lived aha moment.
In this week’s Torah portion, we recall the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This momentous event was experienced collectively by the entire Jewish nation. No other people has ever received Divine revelation en masse. Each individual was elevated to otherwise unknown spiritual heights.
At Sinai, the Jewish People as a whole shared an all-encompassing state of unity. Rashi states that “they encamped there like one man with one heart.”81 Previous encampments were marred by internal conflicts and discord. Yet here they were, permeated by a feeling of shared purpose. Their hearts became spiritually aroused, causing the underlying unity among all the Jewish People to be revealed.
At Sinai, the Jewish people were in complete agreement. This was an unprecedented occurrence. The first word of acceptance of the Torah by all of Israel in unanimity was “Naaseh—We will do.” This was spoken at the apex of the greatest spiritual epiphany ever. The multidimensional manner in which the revelation at Sinai took place stimulated all the human senses. An all-powerful blast of a shofar reverberated throughout their encampment. All of Mount Sinai shook forcefully, while an ascending smoke enveloped it. A thick cloud hovered over the mountain, while thunder and lightning punctuated the shofar’s crescendo.
The Torah’s detailed description of what transpired is awe-inspiring. Rashi comments that the people all were able to see that which is normally only heard. Modern science calls this phenomenon “synesthesia.” It’s a condition in which the senses react in a novel way to a stimulus usually dealt with by another sense.
Imagine your sense of sight perceiving a certain sound as purple, or your hearing designating a specific color as the sound of a violin. All those at Har Sinai had the heightened ability to actually see sounds. During this elevated state of consciousness, the dimensions of physical and spiritual reality were perceived as one harmonious whole. In a symbolic metaphor, the higher and lower realities of Heaven and Earth interfaced. An entire nation, simultaneously, was able to transcend its previous limitations. How utterly inspirational!
Can inspiration last? It’s not meant to. Inspiration is the spark that lights a flame. It functions specifically to jump-start us into action. Every inspirational experience begins as a brilliant flash and gradually diminishes into a weakened recollection.
Without continued efforts, the initial feeling engendered by inspiration cannot be maintained. Think of the contrast between infatuation and enduring love. The first sensory high of discovering one’s beloved eventually will subside. That initial flash of awareness must be nurtured, so that it can grow into a sustainable relationship. Imagine a couple telling one another, “I love you,” on their wedding day, but never repeating it again for thirty years. Blithely saying, “If anything changes, I’ll let you know,” certainly is not what we’d consider a loving relationship.
Why do companies, hospitals, schools, and other institutions prominently display portraits of their founders? Such visual images encourage viewers to connect to their ideals and to continue them. Likewise, mission and vision statements encourage us to activate our raison d’être into daily practices.
Inspiration is the first phase, which is meant to evoke a second phase of continuous effort. In the introduction to Moreh Nevuchim (The Guide for the Perplexed), Rambam (Maimonides) metaphorically refers to life as “a dark night on a stormy plain.” Lost in the darkness, one cannot see his or her way. Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminates a pathway. As the light disappears, the faded memory of that flash provides guidance. The pattern of our lives is expressed in this description. We are meant to focus on phase two—utilizing inspiration to develop more inspiring lives.
Unlike treasured artifacts in display cases, we safeguard valued truths by striving to live by and perpetuate them. The Torah’s mitzvot enrich and vivify our relationship with God, self, and humanity. Each mitzvah is part of a greater Divinely calibrated and connective system. As the expression of infinite wisdom, the Torah and mitzvot act to enrich both our physical and spiritual quality of life. Thus, life can be infused with ongoing meaning and purpose.
How can inspiration be maximized? As with any worthwhile endeavor, you must invest yourself. Sitting on the couch and bingeing on junk food while watching exercise videos won’t cultivate a healthier lifestyle. Likewise, just reading self-help books or essays on spiritual growth won’t produce the sought-after, optimal results. Yes, those things can offer inspiration, but you have to act on it.
Immediately translate inspiration into real, tangible deeds. Inspiration is a call to action. What you do with it can maximize the initial spark of inspiration into an ongoing flame.
Thank you for the reminder that inspiration must be followed by action!