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A Call to
Reflection: The Gift of Our Bodies
Welcome to our
special Cheshbon HaNefesh series for the month of Elul. This is our
second reflection, focusing on what God has given us and the reciprocal debt we
owe Him. Our last reflection focused on the gift of existence itself; this one
considers the remarkable gift of our physical bodies.
Consider a
person who is bedridden or a paraplegic. While they exist, they lack full use
of their body. In contrast, God created us with a perfect, intricate design. He
assembled every organ and system—from the cardiovascular to the digestive—in
our mothers' wombs, a process beyond human comprehension. A baby is born with
tiny toes, perfect toenails, and all the essential organs—a heart, a kidney, a
spleen—working in harmony. This is a profound testament to God's handiwork.
God also
provides the sustenance needed for this development, nourishing us from the
moment of conception out of sheer kindness.
Now, imagine
for a moment what it would be like if you were missing something essential.
What if you were blind? Or imagine tying your hands behind your back and trying
to get through a single hour of your day. How would you shower? How would you
drive? Or what if you couldn't walk?
Imagine, after
experiencing that struggle, someone could suddenly restore these abilities to
you. How much gratitude and praise would you offer that person? How much would
you be compelled to follow their every command?
This thought
exercise offers a glimpse into the gratitude we should feel toward God, who
created our limbs and organs perfectly. As the great figures of our tradition
understood, we should be drawn to God's will. Iyob tells God, "You formed
me like clay, and you will return me to dust." King David says, "You
formed my kidneys." And Esther says, "You drew me out from the
womb." They all looked back and appreciated what God did for them.
The Wisdom of
the Greats
There's a
famous story about the great sage Ibn Ezra, who was extremely poor. His friend,
Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, wanted to help him. One day, as Ibn Ezra was walking to
synagogue, Rabbi Yehuda planned to throw an envelope of money in his path.
Hiding behind a bush, he waited for the perfect moment.
As the envelope
was about to land, Ibn Ezra suddenly closed his eyes and began tapping his
cane, walking right past the money. When asked why he did this, Ibn Ezra
explained, "This morning I said the blessing 'Pokeach Ivreem' (He who
opens the eyes of the blind). I wanted to imagine what it would be like if I
couldn't see, so I closed my eyes." Of course, God intervened at that
exact moment, ensuring he didn't see the money, so he would remain in his state
of poverty.
This story
teaches us a valuable lesson: the greats understood that to truly appreciate
something, you must first imagine its absence.
This is the
practice we should adopt during the month of Elul. Take time to reflect on the
immense gifts God has given you—starting with the miracle of your own body.
Tomorrow marks
the second day of our 30-day journey. We'll be doing a double dose on Friday to
get in all 30 reflections.
