Every relationship must include interaction. If the way we “become one” with Hashem (G-d) is in the form of a relationship, we need some form of interaction with him. But where is there any point of real interaction? We certainly interact with Hashem ‘from our side’ by performing each and every day the commandments which he has requested of us to do; but what is it that he does each and every day for us?
In a general way, we can know that everything we have is from Hashem – the first source of ‘everything’. He brought us into the world, he has given us enough food to survive until today, he gave us parents, family, a home, etc. and certainly if we train ourselves to thank daily for the various facets of our life, it will help us greatly to feel more as if Hashem is now granting to us each one of those elements from anew each and every day.
Therefore, the acknowledgement of what we have through our gratitude makes it feel as if what we already had yesterday is being given to us today in a real interactive way, and is a very important tool in building a relationship with Hashem.
But there is an additional tool that we can use in a more specific way that will feel like actual positive interaction from anew each and every day. This tool can even allow for us to develop such intense feelings of positivity for his “giving” toward us, that over time can build into a relationship of overflowing positive emotions for him. That tool is “Experience”.
What is an Experience?
According to traditional Jewish sources, a “piece” of Hashem’s Infinity is hidden within each experience. From the time of creation, Hashem has embedded ‘aspects of his Infinity’ within each and every physical experience in this world. These Infinite, G-dly levels of pleasure which are spread throughout the world are termed in the Jewish holy writings as nitzotzos – G-dly “sparks”.
The reason the metaphor of a “spark” is used, is that just like a spark is an actual piece of fire, but if during its short existence it doesn’t catch on to any combustible material it just fades out of tangible reality; so too the “sparks of holiness” – which are actual “pieces of Infinity” and are located in the physicality of this world – if during their short tangible existence (while in the midst of experiencing the physical pleasure) the feel of the experience doesn’t “catch on” to connect to the “source of Infinity”, it just “fades out of the tangible reality” and is forgotten.
Every time we partake of, or experience, any physical pleasure, we are in essence experiencing a ‘little bit’ of Hashem’s Infinity. The “spark of holiness” was initially dormant in the form of the positive pleasure hidden within each physical experience, and when we partake of it and “experience” it, we feel the aspect of G-dly pleasure that was hidden within it. At that moment, we have the choice of “connecting” that experience back to its Source – Hashem – or not to.
These types of pleasures pass in and out of our day hundreds of times. If we pay attention to them and recognize that the pleasures we are experiencing are really the ‘aspects of Infinity’ hidden within physicality, then we can use those experiences to ‘spark’ our connection with Hashem.
But if we fail to make any connection between those experiences and the source, Infinite creator, then they flare up and are enjoyable for the moment, but quickly fade out of any type of tangible existence once they pass.
It is these experiences which are Hashem’s way of “giving” to us in a positive interactive way each and every day. Hashem certainly wants us to partake of these experiences – the proof being that he implanted human nature with needs; yet at the same time he warns us not to partake of those experiences that he has outlined which will serve only to draw us further away from him.
The fact that we eat different foods each day, see beautiful scenery, listen to enjoyable music, examine the wisdom hidden in the physical world, etc. are all examples of positive experiences that we are exposed to daily in a permissible way. When we can “connect” the fleeting pleasure to its source, we end up strengthening our relationship with the One who we know it all comes from.
Excerpt from “It’s All for the Good” by Rabbi Nachum Chaimowitz. Available at Israel Book Shop Publications
