The Torah points out that our mother Leah had dim or weak eyes in contradistinction to the beauty of her sister Rachel. But the idea of beautiful eyes is not limited to physical beauty alone. The Torah demands of us, eyes that have a sense of vision that can see from afar - even see the otherwise unseen.

 

Our vision is not limited to our physical eyes but rather is defined by our ability to see beyond our physical boundaries and natural limitations. And that perhaps is what the rabbis really meant, on a deeper level, when they wrote of the great attribute of beautiful eyes.

 

In effect, the Torah requires that we engage in periodic eye checks.  We all know how difficult it is to read the bottom lines of the eye chart. The letters are too small and the distance from our eyes to the chart itself is too great. So too is it in the realm of life and the spirit. We are unable to read the lines that forecast our futures and we feel that the challenge of doing so is too much to ask of us. But the Torah is unrelenting in posting its eye charts for us to attempt to read.

 

The Talmud offers a majority opinion that the sightless are freed of certain obligations of performing the commandments of the Torah. But there is a minority opinion, faithfully and respectfully recorded, that they are nevertheless fully obligated in the performance of the commandments of the Torah.

 

On a certain level of understanding, the idea of the sightless is only a physical defect, albeit certainly a major one. But the Torah operates on a spiritual and non-physical plane as well as on the rational, realistic one that we can all experience. The commandments of the Torah can have relevant meaning and spiritual accomplishment even to the visually impaired.

 

And, the Talmud again respectfully and faithfully records the minority opinion for the Torah’s commandments have effect and relevance on many levels and planes of meaning and importance. The Torah mocks idolatry and those that worship idols by stating that “they have eyes but nevertheless are unable to see.” Worshipping physical items, hedonism, false gods and warped ideals are symptoms of severe sightlessness.

 

By not being able to see the consequences of immoral behavior and perverted attitudes one is doomed to failure and pain, just as the sightless are liable to cause themselves physical harm by venturing out unguided onto a road strewn with obstacles. Without vision there can be no progress or achievement.

 

The Torah, when it wishes to inform of the unique character and personal qualities of our father Abraham, states: “And he saw the place from afar.” Midrash points out that his two colleagues who accompanied him to Mount Moriah, Yishmael and Eliezer, were unable to see that place from a distance. However, Abraham’s son Isaac, like his father, saw the unseen through the omnipresent godly cloud hovering over the mountain.

 

In the long and very dark night of the Jewish exile, Jews nevertheless saw beyond their current plight and difficulties and envisioned their promised, eventual return to their ancient homeland, the Land of Israel. They were able to see the place and their better future from afar. And that vision became a  reality in our generations.

 

The Bible in Proverbs teaches us that “a wise man has eyes in his head,” Well, doesn’t everyone have eyes in their head? That is certainly true in physical terms but in terms of vision and spiritual farsightedness, there are many who tragically are not too wise. The connection between our eyes and our head, our behavior and our moral and spiritual aspirations is not always what it should be.

 

A wise person realizes that one’s eyes must be in one’s head and that one’s eyesight must always be checked and corrected. So even though my great- granddaughters have beautiful eyes, I still pray that they will be blessed with good vision, physically and spiritually. For truly, the eyes do have it.

 

Shabat shalom

 

Berel Wein