CHOCHMAS NASHIM: In the Beginning: The Soul is Born
By: Suri Davis, 10/24/19, 3pm, London
This week’s Torah portion is the very first Book and Parsha of the Torah. In Genesis/Bereishis 2:7, the torah tells us that G-d formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul/Nefesh Chaya.
In Exodus, in a discussion of Shabbos observance, 31:17, the torah tells us that Shabbos is “a sign between me and the people of Israel forever; for in six days G-d made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed/shavat vayinafash.”
Nefesh is soul and vayinafash is to refresh. Rabbi Jack Abromowitz, in an article on OU.org, sets for the premise that the word nefesh/soul is different than a similar word for soul, neshama, in that the neshama is dependent on a person’s being physically alive, while the nefesh knows G-d and is eternal.
It appears to me that the similarity of the use of the words Nefesh and vayinafash is for the purpose of revealing that our essence on earth is for our soul to strive to get to know G-d more, by observing torah and commandments. We think our destiny is in our hands.
On Shabbos, we refrain from working, and as a recurrent theme in my articles we know that we think since we are at the wheel of our “car”, our work for six days, on the seventh day, when we refrain from working and we observe Shabbos, we take our hands off the steering wheel and can see and get to know G-d better, that He is the sole driver, ostensibly self-driving cars but with G-d intelligence. The soul is refreshed by our observance of Shabbos and the open revelation of G-d’s involvement and guidance in our lives.
There is nothing like Shabbos and yom tov in Israel. This sukkoth was the first time I was ever in Israel for a Jewish holiday and for such an extended holiday period. All work closes down except necessities like grocery stores and restaurants and the like. The Jews in Israel get to take their communal hands off the steering wheel, and observe the Sukkoth as a nation, I’ve never experienced that ever before, and it is just a tip of the experience of the time of redemption, when Moshiach comes.
I was on a kibbutz for Simchat Torah and they danced hakafot in the hotel lobby, grabbing every Jew with or without kippah, black pants, red shorts, into a spiritual frenzy. What a lovely experience so moving and touching.
And what can I say other than I am so very grateful to Melech Malchei Hamlachim/G-d, for coming up with the plan of having my nephew from NJ, find a kallah from Melbourne Australia, and have them meet and marry in Israel around Sukkoth time, to permit the opportunity for the Davis family, my parents, siblings and I to celebrate this awesome holiday in the heart of Jerusalem with its spiritual frenzy, followed by a most magnificent and holy wedding in Jerusalem. Not a dry eye at the end of the chuppah ceremony when Im eshkachech yerushalem/If I forget thee o Jerusalem was sung with a panoramic view of Jerusalem at night spread before us. What an amazing unique experience I have had with my family this holiday season.
As I sit in a lounge waiting to return to New York, there is a spark of disappointment. As soon as I hit the Kotel plaza, tears opened up as a spigot. The whole holiday the kotel was body to body 24 hours a day. Men singing, women crying, it’s time G-d, it’s time for a complete redemption. I am on the way home, and Moshiach did not come, nor did my niece give birth as we had hoped…IYH both at the right time/bshaah tovah umutzlachat. Running to my plane. Seeing you back in the heilige five towns iyh.
POST SCRIPT: Two hours after I landed in New York, the word from Israel is: My niece Batya Jacobowitz and her husband Rabbi Moshe Chaim Jacobowitz gave birth to twin girls. Mazel tov to my sister and brother in law, Mark and Naomi Gross, to my parents, Susie and Ruby Davis, and to Sharon and Melvin Gross. While we are at it, Mazel Tov to the entire Five Towns/Far Rockaway extended Davis Mishpachah, on the recent birth of the SEVENTH generation of Davises in the Community. My grandparents Chaim and Esther Davis were pioneers in the white shul. They brought with them to the community my grandmother’s mother, Mindy Wolf, who was the first generation. With the birth of Esther Himy over yom tov, to Shaindy Bajnon Himy and Piny Himy, the seventh generation has begun, and with the grand name of Esther, after Esther Davis. Mazel Tov to the grandparents Rivkie and Moshe Bajnon, to the great grandparents, Mark and Gitty Bodner, and to the Great Great Grandmother Sara Gross, kh. Ureh banim l’vanechah shalom al yisrael. May HKBH continue showering simchas on us all this coming year and the biggest simcha of all, binyan Yesrushalayim ir kadshenu/the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Shabbat shalom.
Love
Suri