Timeless Torah

I can sense you’re getting angry. You don’t like the question. You think it is the prelude to some sort of solicitation.

Stop! This has nothing to do with donations and your economic ability as it has to do with your intrinsic value. Let me explain.

In this week’s Torah portion of Shemini we are taught some of the laws concerning spiritual impurities. The halacha is that utensils made of wood and metal become spiritually unclean if a contaminated item touches them externally. On the other hand,
earthen vessels are rendered impure only if the contaminated object is within the vessel, but not by external contact.

A great Chasidic master once explained this puzzling difference. Only something of value can be defiled. Inasmuch as wood and metal have an intrinsic value, any contact with something ritually unclean causes it to diminish in worht and become impure. Earth, however, has no inherent value. The worht of an earthen vessel is that it can contain something within itself. Hence the state of contamination can only conme from inside the vessel, which is its point of value.

There is a moral lesson to be derived from the above. In Genesis we are told that, “G-d created man from the dust of the earth.” As with any other earthen item, man’s worth should come fron within himself and not from that which is external to him.

How vastly different are Torah attitudes from the world’s! Yhe common expression, “How much is he worth?” or, “So what does she do?” betrays the criterion which society employs in assessing the relative merits of each human being. People are measured by what they have rather than what they are.

It ‘s true money has always played an important role in ensuring that wealthy people receive recognition. Indeed, when used wisely, philantrophy should be acknowledged. All this notwithstanding, the primary worth of an individual should be his character.

So don’t let the IRS assess your true value. Ask your children and spouse not if you are a good provider, but whether you are good. Ask the same question to your colleagues and neighbors. But most important, look into the mirror and ask yourself.