בס''ד
And so it begins again. Another year as we travel along the eternal chain of the Torah, once again renewing our connection to its timeless teachings. We are all probably well acquainted with the Chazal that says the reason the Torah begins with a “ב” is because that is the first letter of the word “ברכה” meaning “blessing”, a most suitable place to start. This is opposed to what one would perhaps expect, starting with the first Hebrew letter “א”. The basis for not using this letter is because it is the first letter of the word “ארור”, meaning cursed, not something we would want to commence the Torah with. The obvious question that arises from this is that there are many positive words that also begin with the letter “א”, and many negative words that begin with a “ב”. So why base a decision on only two specific examples, when there are many more that do not fit in with this pattern?
There are certain words that typically have negative connotations and others that classically portray more positive images. Light and dark are two such examples. Darkness in general suggests lack of clarity, confusion or perhaps something untoward. Light, on the other hand, seems to evoke more pleasant impressions in our mind and is used to depict concepts that are beneficial, definite and virtuous. But if we think carefully, in fact these are great generalisations when darkness can on many occasions be used to one’s benefit, such as to hide from a threat, and light could be potentially detrimental, if concealment is necessary. In summation, what we are saying is that there is very little that is absolutely positive or absolutely negative, it just depends on the context. Reb Yisroel Salanter however explains that a blessing is something that by definition is totally and entirely good for the beneficiary, without exception, and a curse is something that is delineated as being something unequivocally and wholly bad for the recipient. What better opening for the Torah therefore than something that, like the Torah itself, is so uniquely, unquestionably good.
When we look at our life and all it contains, it is all too easy to pigeonhole the different and disparate elements into being either good or bad. Illness, loss, hurt…bad. Health, plenty, happiness…good. Yet in truth nothing is unconditionally either advantageous or unfavourable. We cannot define anything indiscriminately as being in either category but rather must see the potential benefit and the potential harm in all that comes our way. Money and power certainly have their noble uses, but equally contain their own perilous pitfalls. Pain is to be avoided wherever possible, but may give opportunities to connect and experience gratitude that may otherwise not be possible. Our task is to make active choices with what we have so that they are only used for the positive and never for the negative. We must periodically look at all we are given and think of ways in which we can give them real value. In doing so we are not just providing ourselves with a more optimistic outlook, but are ensuring that are whole lives are full of only that which is utilised for the good.
* May Shabbos bring light into what otherwise seemed dark*
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לאה בת אברהם
לרפואת
אלימלך יהושע אהרון בן דבורה רבקה
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