G-d's Masterpiece

In the spring of 2000, yours truly enjoyed the wonderful experience of hiking in the Grand Canyon. I will never forget the awe I felt upon my first glance of the massive hole in the ground that seemed to go on forever. I felt like a small drop in a massive body of water. The splendor of the Canyon was absolutely breathtaking!

Initially, I was not the least bit interested in hiking. I was open to the possibility of riding a donkey or perhaps taking a helicopter to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, anything to avoid hiking. The thought of climbing up and down a mountain just for fun did not appeal to me. I had no desire to over-exert myself, and endure great physical pain and danger, to prove that I could have been a park ranger if I had so desired. Then, reality kicked in. I did not have the resources for the helicopter, and my vacation buddy refused to ride a donkey, citing “it was way too dorky to be seen on a donkey” (to this day I still wonder who he feared bumping into in the Grand Canyon). Left with no choice, I accepted my fate and agreed to hike.

The climax of the trip, was praying the morning service next to the rim of the Canyon as the sun was rising. I had wrapped myself in my tallis and donned my teffilin upon my arm and head. The sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon accompanied by the rays of the sun was inspiring. It was clear to me that I was witnessing the hand of G-d and the brilliance of creation. The power and awesomeness of G-d was evident. Then my spiritual high came to a screeching halt. As I was praying (wearing my tallis and tefillin) a bus filled with Japanese tourists armed with cameras pulled up along side me in order to enjoy the view of the Canyon. I am convinced that they took more pictures of me than the Canyon itself. The multiple flashes caused me to feel as if I was caught in a lightning storm with nowhere to hide.

Question for the Shabbos Table: Most people would agree that naturally beautiful or amazing places like the Grand Canyon, Niagara falls, or the Swiss Alps provide a glimpse of the power and beauty of G-d. We know that man-made creations, such as skyscrapers, bridges, microchips that contain thousands of pages of information, and heart transplants are a reflection of the sophistication and brilliance of mankind. However, is it appropriate to utilize these “man-made” items to reflect on the greatness of G-d? Can one argue that since man created it, it has nothing to do with G-d, or is everything from G-d?

My thoughts: It is true that man has the ability to create and conceive ideas that are “new” to the world. However, it is impossible for man to have thought of an idea, which G-d has not. Everything in this world can give us a taste of the greatness of the Almighty. The next time we are successful in one of our endeavors or we think of a clever idea, we must remember that we had help.

True Lies

Were you ever in a situation where you honestly felt the correct thing to do was lie? Were you ever asked your opinion on something that you knew your honest opinion would offend the inquirer? What would you do if, G-d forbid, your wife or mother cooked a special dish that she believed would be something to talk about for years to come, and you did not like it? Would you tell her that she should write a cookbook around the recipe, or do you take the chance of offending her and being brutally honest? (Author’s note: My last point is strictly theoretical, I cannot relate on a personal level).

Is there ever a time where the right thing to do is lie? If a person does lie for the purpose of avoiding pain to another, is that considered a distortion of the truth? Where does one draw the line between being a liar, and a person who promotes peace?

In this week’s Torah portion (Toldos) Jacob (identified by the Sages as the man of truth) at the behest of his mother, tricked his father Isaac into believing that he was his older brother Esau, in order to receive the special blessing. When Isaac discovered that Jacob deceived him, he did not offer a single word of rebuke towards Jacob. In fact, it seems from the text that Isaac ultimately concurred with the actions of Jacob. Can it be that the Patriarchs of the Jewish nation condoned deception?

We must conclude that the word truth does not necessarily mean an exact description of what has occurred. Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler explains that the Jewish perception of truth is defined by what is the will of G-d in that particular moment. Sometimes the truth (G-d’s will) may demand a white lie in order to save a person from mental anguish or to minimize the potential for an argument. From the fact that Isaac was not upset with Jacob indicates that he ultimately understood that Jacob’s actions were a fulfillment of G-d’s will.