The Light Of Creation

Can you recall when you last had a sudden inspiration? Do you remember the feeling that accompanied it? That momentary meeting with the Source of Creation provoked the feeling of sublime exhilaration. The feeling doesn’t last very long but it’s enough for us to remember who we are, where we came from and the delight of having been there. The joys of Jewish spirituality are those instantaneous creative flashes.

Torah has been studied creatively for over two thousand years. Each word was carefully sifted like the finest flour for every nuance of meaning, and yet new interpretations of the text continuously pour forth. Each vowel, each word holds within itself possibilities for new light to emerge and each illumination brings with it a burst of sheer delight. Did you ever wonder why that feeling accompanies the “aha” of an intuitive flash? Each breakthrough is the creative solution to some problem that emanates from the spiritual domain. It’s a little glimpse of heaven.

Many believe that creativity is reserved only for artists—writers, painters and musicians. That’s not at all true. Creativity is a function we all possess to find answers to everyday obstacles. Suppose, for example, I’m caught in the middle a dispute between two friends, a common predicament. How do I exit gracefully without offending either of the feuding parties? There is no one answer; each solution is unique, but the process we go through is the same for each of us.

Psychological researchers have identified and explained the process. They researched this phenomenon by studying the problems solving methods of some of the great minds of the century: Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Marie Curie, among others. First, they say, we need to understand the problem accurately. Then we need to compile as much information, relevant to the issue, as possible—this would be the bulk of the work; once we have completely exhausted the fact-finding, we just sit back, do nothing and wait for an answer to come. It will come, and at a time or, in a way we least expect. That jubilant burst signals the authenticity of the response.

Creativity is truly a Jewish specialty. The Rabbis, the composers of the Talmud and Midrash had monumental and unprecedented problems to solve. “What will become of the Jewish nation after the Temple is destroyed”, they intuited. “How will Judaism flourish if the people are dispersed to various lands?” Also, in their pursuit to interpret God’s will, they wondered what happened in the spaces the Torah narrative left untold. The Rabbi’s were very creative and imaginative sages; they were known to meditate on verses until a spark of meaning shined forth. Their writing reflected their creativity. Here the author of Keter Shem Tov, a later Hasidic work comments on Psalm 97:11, “the sacred letters are the chambers into which God pours flowing light. The lights within each letter, as they touch, ignite one another and new lights are born. It is of this the Psalmist says: Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart”. Wow! How in the world could the writer have connected two such disparate thoughts, if not for a vivid and creative imagination?

In the course of my years in the business world, I always worked in a creative capacity. I often received compliments for my innovative ideas. I would simply say, “thank you” and look quizzically, knowing full well that I did absolutely nothing. I simply explored every possible solution and when nothing turned up, I put the project on hold. Sooner or later a solution appeared. No one ever knows how an answer will surface; it may come as a thought, a feeling, or it may come from just flipping through magazine pages, you never know.

The creative process should become the very heart of how Jews approach life. Imagine having a personal problem—something everyone has these days—and rather than seeking professional advice, you do the Jewish thing. You start by defining the issue accurately. Then tirelessly go to work. Jot down memories, ask others what they remember, reread old letters, do what ever it takes to shed light on the problem. Once you think you reached the saturation point, drop it and wait for a response. Finally, we must understand that trust is the key that releases the creative flow. The Jewish Bible contains myriad references to the importance of trust: “When I am afraid, I trust in You. In God, whose word I praise”. (Psalms 56:4), or “How precious Your faithful care, O God! Mankind shelters in the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalms 36:8)

Try the creative path anytime you encounter an enigmatic passage of Torah, try it at the Passover table, and try it for the sake of those glitches that short-circuit our lives. Many kinds of problems can be negotiated concurrently; as old ones dissolve, new ones will arise. It’s a process that goes on throughout life.