IN THE SOUL OF THE BEHOLDER

You’ve probably heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But last Sunday, I realized—it may also be “in the soul of the beholder.”

That day, I was walking through my neighborhood with a friend. We often discuss the Torah together, and sometimes our views on life couldn’t be more different. For example, he sees a human being as nothing more than a biological machine with a brain. So, I asked him, “If the brain controls everything, where do feelings like love come from?” He didn’t have a clear answer.

After all, the Torah teaches: “Hashem God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

During our walk, I paused to photograph some roses. My friend asked, “Don’t you already have enough pictures of roses?” I smiled and replied, “I’m not photographing flowers. I’m capturing beauty.”

For me, beauty is not only something I see—it’s something I feel with my soul. And just as important, it’s something I can share—with friends, with strangers, with anyone who needs a gentle reminder that life is more than what meets the eye.

So here are a few roses from one and the same bush. Enjoy them. Care for beauty wherever you find it. And share it generously.