Soil and Humility
By humble
For December 20, 2022
Mikeitz - Genesis 41:48
וַיִּקְבֹּ֞ץ אֶת־כׇּל־אֹ֣כֶל
שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּתֶּן־אֹ֖כֶל בֶּעָרִ֑ים אֹ֧כֶל שְׂדֵה־הָעִ֛יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְבִיבֹתֶ֖יהָ נָתַ֥ן בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃
"Joseph collected all the surplus food during the seven years that had now come to pass in Egypt, and he placed the food in storage complexes in the cities. It was a well-known fact that soil's composition varies from one locale to the next, the soil of each locale possessing its own unique properties that enable it to sustain different crops. It was further known that, because of this fact, the crops of any specific locale are best preserved when stored with some of the soil in which they were grown. Joseph therefore placed with the food some soil taken from the fields surrounding the city where it had grown."
We need Soil
Metaphorically, our food is the Torah knowledge we amass.In order for us to retain this "food" and ensure that it does not "spoil," we must place some "soil" inside it.
Soil, which is trod upon by all, is a metaphor for humility. By infusing our Torah knowledge with humility, we ensure that it will endure within us.
We must learn from Abraham who saw himself as dust and ashes:
וַיַּ֥עַן אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הִנֵּה-נָ֤א הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל-אֲדֹנָ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י עָפָ֥ר וָאֵֽפֶר
׃
"Abraham spoke up, saying, "Here I venture to speak to my L-rd, I who am but dust and ashes"
(Genesis 18:27)
A Humble Heart
For only when we are humble will our hearts be able to truly open to the meaning and message of the Torah.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners and intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
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Your emphasis on humility with Torah learning was wonderful Achoti! Todah Rabbah ve Baruch HaShem! 🙏