Perfectly Believable Stories
Moshe called the whole community of the Children of Israel to assemble, and he said to them: “These are the things that HASHEM commanded to make. Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have sanctity, a day of complete rest to HASHEM; whoever performs work shall be put to death. You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwelling places on the Shabbos day.” (Shemos 35:1-3)
Six days. He prefaced the work of the Mishkan with the warning to keep the Sabbath, denoting that it does not supersede the Shabbos). – Rashi
We learn our HASHKAFA, our outlook on life from the Halacha, the Law, and not the other way around. We have here a giant lesson in Torah values from the fact that in certain ways Shabbos has supremacy over the construction of the Mishkan. The building is not halted entirely but only temporarily for Shabbos. The day of cessation, the Holy Day of Shabbos is preceded by six full days of creative action. First, we have a period of work and second, we have a pause. Where have we seen this pattern before?
If you want to hear a believable story, the Talmud in Tractate Megillah tells us that if someone says, “YAGATI U’MATZATI TAAMIN” – “I struggled and I found, believe him”. That is a story that has credibility. In the world of achievement these two modalities are necessary. If we only work and work and work then there is a danger that we might become deluded by the notion that we are doing everything all by ourselves, as the Torah cautions, lest we say in our heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth” (Devarim 8:17)
So, the effort we employ needs to be followed by a period of letting go so we can step back and appreciate that ultimately the goodness in our lives is from HASHEM. If we passively wait for a Metzia, a happenstance gift to appear magically without effort first, the result is even more catastrophic. We will then be on welfare and eating from the NAHAMA D’KISUFA – the bread of shame, as the Zohar calls it, for eternity.
That may sound at first like a stroke of good luck, but in truth it is a form of Gehinom. People do not feel good getting something for nothing. For that reason, Shlomo HaMelech tells us in Mishlei, “SONEI MATANOS YICHYE” – “One who hates gifts will live”. That luxurious existence of passivity atrophies the spiritual muscles of the human being rendering him with a feeling of ultimate unworthiness. That’s a terrible place to be! So, the reception of any good is best if it is preceded first by exertion.
I find that this is a tried and tested way of the creative process. Let’s say that someone asks me for a title for an upcoming lecture. I, now, always say that I will call back soon. I know that no matter how much I squeeze my brain and try to think creatively, almost nothing of any value will emerge.
However, once having tried with all my might, then I let go and step away, the answer I am seeking comes flooding into my mind. It works that way every time! It’s a gift that comes only after effort.
On Friday nights we go around the table with the same question. “What did you do this week that gave you the greatest feeling of accomplishment?” One week we had three guests and one said he had a nice conversation with his mother. Another said all of Tehillim each day and another made it twice to Shacharis that week.
One of our children got an 80% on a math test, claiming it was hard for her and she thought she would fail. One washed a large pile of dishes in preparation for Shabbos. Somebody forgave a friend and somebody else ignored an insult.
Every pronouncement is met by a bouncy song to applaud and highlight the feeling of accomplishment. We came to realize a few important and personal truths in this pastime. People usually feel good about doing something that was hard for them to do or something they did for someone else. Each person reveals a small part of their personal struggle in declaring their individual victory, and these are all perfectly believable stories.
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Date: March 21, 2025
