This week, we celebrated Tu Bishvat, the new year of the trees. Something that really stuck with me is the idea that the purpose of the creation of fruit is pleasure and enjoyment, actual nourishment is secondary. Pleasure only looses its animalistic and unrefined, low and disconnecting aspect when we enjoy for a higher purpose, to gain excitement for life and gratitude, to get closer to the creator. Meaning: we fulfill the spiritual purpose of eating only through preparing ourselves beforehand through the right intentions, to become conscious of a higher purpose of eating, to not make it a physical and vulgar experience which takes away from our spiritual connection but instead eat the very same food in a way that connects and elevates.
This is just one example to the idea that high and valuable experiences require preparation in order to be fully experienced in a way that draws down its full potential. Nowadays, everything is fast pace and we seek instant stimulation, too often forgetting the importance of taking a step back and tune in in order to catch quality and awareness.
The central part of parasha yitro is matan Torah – the only time G-d actually revealed Himself to humanity, giving over his commandments. This was the whole purpose of the Jews leaving Egypt: to receive the Torah. Why did this only happen after three months of walking through the desert? There is another question to be asked in order to delve deeper: why did Hashem command a three-day preparation before the actual event, asking the people to wash their clothes and to restrain from marital relationships?
These aspects allude to the idea of preparation. Three entire months the Jews walked through the desert, not for naught. This was a process of refinement, of getting „back into shape“ and their full spiritual force after being enslaved for centuries, helping them become the fitting vessels to receive the Torah.
What about the three days of preparation? And why wash their clothes? What can we learn from this?
Matan Torah is an ongoing process – it didn’t end at Mount Sinai. Every day we say the bracha on the Torah and every week we read from it, not as an ancient book but as an active guide and well of wisdom. We are the vessels to receive these waters of torah but in order to do this properly, we need to clean our garments – they allude to our spiritual garments; thought, speech and action. Ask yourself the following two question: what does receiving the Torah mean for me? For me it means life force, deep understanding/enlightenment of myself and the world which helps me realize my potential and purpose, leading to the ultimate feeling of deep satisfaction and fulfillment. As you and I have the ability to receive this at every second, now ask yourself: how can I wash my garments (thought, speech , action) in preparation to receive ? Maybe it’s taking a moment to contemplate the food in front of you before you eat it so it becomes a holy action instead of an animalistic one or thinking before you speak to use this unique gift of speech to beautify it through words of love and goodness. Maybe it is not pressing on the snooze button and getting up strong to start your day in clarity.
Find your ways to clean, to prepare, because then the receiving of what life and understanding means to you will become possible in the highest way possible.
How are you cleaning your spiritual garments to receive the Torah today?
Then the receiving of what life and understanding means to you will become possible in the highest way.
Blessing you with strength and life force ! Just like the trees that are drawing their sap in this season in order to supply energy to grow fruit !!
Shabbat shalom 🕯️🌟🕯️🌟🕯️🌟🕯️🌟
Love love love 🪬❤️