“Good is in your heart. Connect with it and you will see beauty.”
A new yearly cycle of reading the Torah started on Saturday, September 28th. Five books of Moses are divided into 54 chapters, which are read every Shabbat in the synagogues around the world. The Jewish calendar follows the lunar cycle. To adapt to the days we use from the Gregorian calendar (1582) in certain weeks, some chapters are combined. Every morning, I read the chapter of the day as an inspiration and a reminder, and I would like to share some of my observations with you.
The first book and the first chapter in English are called, “Genesis”, and as you probably know, describe the story of creation of the world. Among us, there are those who take the story literally. Some believe that the narrative is the product of human imagination, while others claim that there is no God and no story.
I personally believe that there are the sources of creation and sustaining of the life beyond our comprehension—this is what some of us call God. The Torah is not a history book and presents its narrative often in an allegorical form. For example, six days of creation is an evolutionary process, which scientists have calculated took place over 15 billion years ago. But what is remarkable for us readers, is how this complicated process is described in the Torah:
“In the beginning of God’s creating the heavens and the earth—when the earth was astonishingly empty with darkness upon the surface of the deep, and the Divine Presence hovered upon the surface of the waters—God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated between the light and the darkness.”—Genesis 1/1-5
Upon completion of each daily task:
“God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”—Genesis 1/26-27
The question comes to mind, how it is possible to see good! After all, as we know, good is a relative term (Good vs. Bad).
Perhaps what the Torah calls “good”, refers to our definition of beauty, and in “God’s eyes” good is equivalent to beauty. Then there is a question—how do we feel good? Usually we say that it feels good in the heart.
On my trip to Cuba in February, I met a very good Cuban photographer, José Martí. He taught me a valuable lesson. To create beautiful images, the photographer needs to see an object, not only with the eyes, but to connect with the heart.
This also relates to the mortgage business. To enable me to see a good plan of action for my clients’ needs, I need to connect with them heart to heart. That is when good solutions often come and I can “see” them.
At the same time, I wonder if God would see what our government is creating in the mortgage business as good? Just read “Shutdown Trips up Mortgage Lending” (in The San Francisco Chronicle), to get a sense of how we are all interconnected.
P.S.
We traveled to Venice to see the La Biennale di Venezia Art Show, which has taken place there every other year for over 100 years. Venice is beautiful and incredibly crowded with tourists. It was our first stop on our trip to Italy—details of which I will share with you later. Meanwhile, see how good and beautiful it is.
In a separate email, I am going to send you from time to time—“Today’s Specials” about beneficial mortgage news.
Do not keep me as a secret.
SMILE AND PLEASE SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND
Thank you!