We are living in interesting times, as the Chinese “blessing” goes. Are you looking for a little refuge?
This week's Torah portion, Shoftim, talks about the cities of refuge. If one had committed manslaughter, they were to flee to a City of Refuge, where they would be safe from their pursuers. Torah study is also compared to a city of refuge, and the Talmud relates that the words of Torah, the study of Torah, and the preoccupation with Torah act as a refuge.
This will become clear as we examine the Hebrew word for refuge, MIKLAT. It means a place of absorption. You are absorbed and protected within it. Similarly, when we study Torah, we are absorbed within its aura, within its sanctity. At the very same time that we are being absorbed by the Torah, as our mind grasps the concepts, we are absorbing the Torah. This mutual absorption is really a unique unifying experience between the person and the Divine wisdom. And this ontological unity is the very nature of the refuge.
We are now in the month of Elul, the month of preparation for the High Holy Days. Our Rabbis have taught that the letters of this month allude to various verses from the Torah that guide us in this preparation. One of these allusions is the verse: “Ena L’yado Usamti Lach.” As you can see, it spells ELUL. The verse is referring to bad stuff happening, and G-d providing for us the place of refuge. This verse empowers us to increase our Torah study in this special month.
We protect it, we cherish it, we lift it, and we keep it in our most sacred space.
It protects and cherishes us; it lifts us and keeps us in its most sacred space. Pull it off the shelf, place it on your table. And create a seven-minute refuge each day. You're welcome.