Spokes and Souls

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Spokes and Souls

Just as a Torah scroll is invalid if one letter is obliterated or missing, the Jewish people--a living Torah scroll--is incomplete if one Jew is missing.

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Ahavat Yisrael

Just as a Torah scroll is invalid if one letter is obliterated or missing, the Jewish people—a living Torah scroll—is incomplete if one Jew is missing.

By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org and host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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4 Comments

Rosemarie CA. December 9, 2012

The World The wheel is the world,within it lies those who are spiritual & those who do not seem to realize they are also with a spirit,lacking of desire to search within. Reply

Anonymous W September 6, 2010

Context Your concrete analogy works for me. When differences of opinion come up, good analogy or bad analogy, if one takes into account context, the differences melt away, both views are ' right '. This forum does not allow verbal exchanges whereby this analogy can be further elucidated.

The message describes the spokes joining at the hub analogous to the macrocosm, attachment of the individuals of the Jewish nation. On another level, we can use the outer rim as an analogy to the Yechida soul, the outer/higher level soul, which joins the Jewish nation. Thus, the analogy is turned inside out and works either way. Consider the context/perspective. They are both ' right '.

Or, one may dismiss the analogy altogether as Illinois does. Personally, I do not see the outer spokes in contact, but the ' vort ' connected may have a different meaning, considering context.

I am not attempting to make everything 'right '. I am simply pointing out the oft overlooked factor of context. Reply

Gershon Halevi Chicago, Illinois via jewishorlando.com August 27, 2010

bicycling und der kleine wort. Spokes are connected both at the rim (the outer circle) and the hub (the inner circle). A bicycle may operate very well with one or more spokes missing.

So too are the Jewish people connected both at the outside and the inside, but in ways that have nothing to do with spirituality.

Better to use no analogy than to use a poor one. Reply

Anonymous wisc August 26, 2010

beautiful thought as is usual with your short and sweet messages.

Thank you Reply

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