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As Jews, our search for meaning is meant to lead us into the deepest and most essential parts of ourselves, things around us, and this whole world. We are a people meant to seek out G-d. The Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya, teaches that G-d is to be found within every Jew, in the deepest recesses of his inside world. Finding and connecting with our G-dly self requires living on the level of truth, where facades are meant to be broken, and the core to be revealed.
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The Torah starts off with the creation of the world, the details and the glory of G-d bringing this world into existence and breathing life into our universe. But to the G-dly soul in every Jew, the first Torah portion is something more important than a vast array of curious insights.
It says, “Meet G-d.”
Now see how He created this world, and every speck of dust in it. See how He is the source, the life underlying everything we see.
The first Torah portion lays the foundation for our whole active life as Jews. Yes, on the simplest level, Torah is a guidebook of commandments, of do’s and don’t’s. But the Torah’s opening transcends that, telling us that a guidebook is for naught without first understanding whom this is for, and where this all comes from. Like the leaves on a tree are beautiful and bright because of strong and well-watered roots far beneath the ground’s surface, G-d is at the root of it all.
G-d created and sustains the world and every speck of dust in it. Everything in our universe, and even that which transcends it, was created and is sustained by G-d. And in that G-dly source, we find a world, we find our soul, and we find ourselves.
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With a source-finding mindset, and a desire to reveal the roots, the upcoming secular holiday of Halloween provides an interesting juxtaposition.
Halloween’s pagan roots are no secret. Although the festival has turned into a modern celebration of orange and black candy, costumes, and horror films, the day originated with a story of evil spirits and the worshipping of multiple gods – an uncomfortable thought for most of us today. And yet, Halloween has turned into a fun day, an excuse to have a costume party at work. How can something so strange and truly scary turn into “just fun”?
It is only because we tolerate the removal of the living source from our everyday lives.
This trend is contrary to the inner nature of a Jew. A Jew was created with the ability, no – the need – to pinpoint the root of G-dliness in everything. This is our toil, this is our mission.
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So as the carved pumpkins emerge, don’t settle for the costume. Look inside – at all of life. Go digging. Find the source. This whole world has G-d’s imprint on it. There is a core of divine energy and holiness in everything, and it’s available to us.
Connect life back to its source and everything vibrates with holiness, meaning, and ultimately, purpose. Why would we want anything else?
So, meet G-d.
Now previewing everywhere.
And in everything.
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