FOR VAYIKRA
BLACK AND BLUE IS GOLD
It was the latest sensation to hit the Internet and social media. Originating in the United Kingdom, it seemed to occupy many around the world, certainly this entire country. It has, by now, thankfully gone away.
Yet, there is an important lesson and message from all this. Please forgive me, then, as we revisit this issue for just one more time.
The sensationalism in this case was over the color of a dress, which was blue and black. Due to the angle of light, or for some other reasons, many people saw the colors as white and gold.
Loud discussions and disagreements erupted all over the place. Those seeing blue and black could not fathom how it can be seen in any other color. Those who could only see gold and white could not understand how blue could have been anywhere in that picture. How is it be possible that two people could see two totally different color-tones in the same picture?
People with important sounding career names weighed in about brains which process color and light information differently. Please see here for an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBVu2TFb76c
To me, the differences in how people see colors may be linked to differences in how people perceive details in other matters. Music is one example: Some ears have the ability to detect the most subtle of details in a melody. A conductor who cannot detect each one of the many violins in the orchestra, or any other piece that makes up the symphony, cannot continue working in this capacity. While some ears can be trained to hear those details, others cannot pick up even lesser subtleties. It is the same with art. Some have the ability to see every aspect in front of them, thereby isolating the details of the painting or picture. Others cannot detect the smaller details, focusing instead on the bigger picture.
Those detailed-oriented people are blessed with talent and skill in their particular field of hearing or seeing. Their talents notwithstanding, they are complemented by those with the talent to see the bigger picture. It is just that, with the amount of diversity among people, things are seen from different persepctives - which touches upon a fascinating rule derived from three words in this week’s Torah portion, “Vayikra.”
This portion deals primarily with the offerings at the Altar in the Holy Temple. In the section dealing with the peace offerings - the offerings from which parts were distributed to the Almighty (burned upon the Altar), to the Kohen (priestly family), and to the one bringing the offering – the Torah concludes as follows: “All fat (from offered animals) is for G-d.” (Vayikra (Leviticus) 3:16.)
The above verse is referring to fats found in various locations within the body of an animal. As derived by the Sages from the Torah’s wording in several places, some of those fats – for example, around the kidneys and liver - must not be consumed by Jewish people. They are, rather, “For G-d.” To this day, the parts of the animal with those fats are discarded from Kosher meat production. In Hebrew, those forbidden fats are called “Cheilev.” The rest of the fats found in animals, called “Shuman” in Hebrew, are permissible.
The word “Cheilev” in Hebrew means not merely fats, but also choice, as in “choice parts.” When the Torah states, “All Cheilev – choice parts – is for Gd,” it indicates that the best goes to the Almighty. In the words of Maimonides in his work of laws, “Whatever is donated for the sake of the Almighty should be of the most attractive and highest quality. A house of prayer should be more attractive than one’s own dwelling. The hungry person should be fed from the best and most tasty foods. One should clothe the naked with attractive garments. Donations to the Temple should be from the best of one’s possessions. As the Torah states: ‘All of the superior quality (“Cheilev”) should be given to G-d.’”
A similar point is made by the Talmud (Shabbos 133,b): “The verse states: ’This is my G-d, and I will beautify Him’ (Sh’mos (Exodus) 15:2). This means, beautify the good deeds you perform. Make, for His sake, a beautiful Sukkah, a beautiful Lulav, a beautiful Shofar, beautiful Tzitzis, and a beautiful Torah scroll.”
Paying closer attention, the Talmud and Maimonides are addressing two methods of embellishing the observance of Judaism. The Talmud is referring to physical matter applied to Jewish observance. Like the walls of the Sukkah, for example, this matter remains in the hands of the one observing the commandment. Maimonides, on the other hand, is referring to matter given away as a donation, not remaining with the donor.
In other words, the Talmud is referring to each detail through which a person serves the Almighty. In addition to the actual observance, it is important for a person to enhance and find a method to beautify and honor the Almighty, the Commander of this observance. Because these objects remain with the person, each detail is a reminder to their owner of how one can increase and better his or her observance.
Maimonides, on the other hand, refers to matter comparable to sacrifices, such as gifts to the poor. Here, since the object does not remain with the benefactor, the emphasis is on beautifying and enhancing the entire object, one at a time.
In both instances – whether with the many details and their owner, or the individual detail – one is reminded to enhance and beautify object, the means, through which one serves the Almighty, since they are both used for Divine purposes.
And it is the same with people. Some possess the nature and talent of being more detail oriented. Others possess the nature and talent of seeing less detail and more of the general picture.
In both cases, each type of person contributes and dedicates to the Divine in his or her own, unique way. Despite the differences – black and blue, gold and white – each individual person has a personal way of enhancing the spiritual connection.
Black and blue were the true colors. When combined, however, those colors have a connotation of being bruised… The imagined colors of Gold and white, on the other hand, are symbols of purity and beauty. Combining all the colors can lead to real and pure beauty.
SUMMARY: It was most definitely blue and black, but even gold and white represent people who see things differently. Those people also utilize their talents for the good.