But Torah, in its profound understanding of the human psyche, has always offered tools—not only to survive catastrophe, but to grow forward from it. We do not wallow in pain, rather we rise in purpose. Judaism teaches us to process trauma not by turning inward and growing smaller, but by anchoring ourselves in truth and expanding outward. Hashem commands the mitzvah of tzitzit. The very same verb used to describe their fearful exploration— “latur”—is echoed in the instruction to remember the mitzvot, and “velo taturu acharei levavchem veacharei eineichem” to not get pulled toward negativity. (Bamidbar 15:39) Be aware of this bias, and train your eyes to see purpose, to remember mitzvot, to be drawn toward good. Rabbi Meir in Menachot 43b comments that that tiny strand of blue tzitzit reminds us of the sea, which reminds us of the sky, which reminds us of the throne of glory. In other words, it helps us zoom out to the bigger picture, away from the negativity and towards the glory.
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2025-05-07 06:48:00
