Creeps

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Have you ever met someone who gave you the creeps? How did you react? Inevitably, we all will encounter challenging experiences in our insolent world. How should we deal with the darker forces in life?

Would you be surprised to know that Moses, in this week’s Torah portion, was faced with this dilemma?

This week’s column addresses this challenge, as part of the general mystery of existence. Indeed the mystery of life actually divides into three elements: The mystery of creation, the mystery of unity and the mystery of evil.

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“These are the creeping things that creep on land which are [spiritually] impure to you: the weasel, the mouse, the ferret, the hedgehog, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail, and the mole… Do not defile yourselves with them, because it will make you spiritually insensitive… Do not defile your souls through any creeping creature that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord Who brought you up from Egypt to be your G-d. Therefore, since I am holy, you must [also] remain holy.”

This week’s Torah portion (Leviticus 11:29-30;43-45)

“Moses found three things difficult, until G-d showed them to him with His finger: Menorah, HaChodesh (the new Moon) and Sherotzim (the creeping creatures forbidden to us).”

Talmud Menachot 29a

What disturbed Moses about the creeping creatures? It seems like an obvious commandment: As human beings created in the divine image, you are expected to be holy and not defile yourself by consuming slithery crawlers?

Commentaries explain, that Moses’ difficulty was that he could not recognize the “impure” crawlers. But this answer chalks up Moses’ dilemma to a technicality. One can think of many ways how Moses could have learned to identify these creatures without having to rely on G-d Himself showing them to him. Just at it was with the new moon and the menorah, clearly, Moses was troubled by something deeper – by a dilemma that could only be resolved through Divine intervention.

The Tzemach Tzedek in one short reference answers the question. At the end of his discourse explaining the difficulty Moses found in the new moon, the Tzemach Tzedek (Oh HaTorah Bo p. 2907) refers Moses’ difficulty with the “creepers” to the Talmud in Baba Metzia (61b).

The Talmud there asks why the verse (in this week’s portion) connects the prohibition of eating crawlers with the Egyptian exodus: Do not defile your souls through any creeping creature that crawls on the ground, for I am the Lord Who brought you up from Egypt to be your G-d.

The Talmud answers:

“G-d says: I Who distinguished [during the plague of the first born in Egypt] between the seed of the first born and the seed of those that were not first born, will exact retribution on those that will mix the innards of unclean fish with the innards of clean fish and sell them to an Israelite.”

And why, the Talmud continues, does the verse use an unusual expression “who brought you up [ha’maalah] from Egypt,” instead of the usual expression “who brought you out [ho’tzeiso] of Egypt”? Answer: G-d says:

“If the only reason I brought up Israel from Egypt was that they would not defile themselves with creeping creatures, it would have been sufficient.”

Hence, the expression “Who brought you up” – G-d lifted and exalted you to a higher standing, one in which you feel too dignified to defile yourself and stoop to the level of creeping creatures.

What is the meaning behind this cryptic Talmudic thought? What connection is there between the G-d recognizing the “innards” of fish and G-d distinguishing the first-born?! What is so important about the commandment of not consuming “sherotzim” (creeping creatures) that this would have been reason enough to take them out of Egypt – a statement not made about any other mitzva?! Is no other commandment, even the fundamental ten commandments, as important as this one?!

To understand this issue requires taking a step back and analyzing the different creatures on earth, which all symbolize various dimensions of experience.

“Sherotzim” – creeping creatures – are symbolic of the lowliest forces in life. Those experiences that do not have the ability to lift themselves above the face of the dust, and always remain hugging the ground upon which we tread.

Even when it comes to four legged animals, Ecclesiastics states that the “spirit of the animal descends downward,” animals, who walk on four, always face down to the earth. As one Rebbe once said, “an animal has never seen heaven.”

Whereas man walks upright and his “spirit ascends upwards.” He thus always yearns for more – as you “lift your eyes to heaven…you see who created you.”

Empirical observation demonstrates that animals live in the same habitats as they did 500 and 5000 years ago. They are not motivated to build better homes, develop technologies, and improve their standard of living. Man who looks upward, on the other hand, always aspires to improve his situation.

When the Tzemach Tzedek was a child he explained why he was able to climb to the top of a ladder, while his friends were not able. “As they climbed they kept looking down. When they saw how high they were, they were afraid to climb higher. I kept looking up. Seeing how low I was, it motivated me to climb ever higher.”

Obviously, every creature in existence plays an indispensable role in the balance of life. The creeping creatures help cleanse, plow and fertilize the earth, besides the many other benefits that they provide. Yet, at the same time that these creatures are meant to remain below, man is meant to feel his special dignity as one walks upright and is always looking to the stars.

No wonder we call a chilling feeling “having the creeps.” And we describe certain lowlifes as “creeps” who give us the “creeps.” Not always is this justified, but at times man can fall to a level of behaving like a creep, slithering beneath us, disconcerting and disturbing our peace of mind.

When Moses heard the commandment to refrain from consuming “creeping creatures,” he was disturbed not by the fact that were “creeps” in the world; what troubled him was how are we humans meant to interact with these lowliest of forces and remain intact.

Ostensibly, it would make more sense that we just ignore the “creepers” and focus our efforts on reaching spiritual heights. Allow them to live in their earthy plane, invisible to us as we thrive in our world between – and bridging – heaven and earth. But once Moses heard that the Torah identifies and commands us to identify the “creepers” and refrain from defiling ourselves through them, he was greatly disturbed, because this meant that Torah was creating a relationship – albeit one of refrain, but still a relationship – between us humans with these creepy creatures. Indeed, the commandment itself implies that people may have the temptation to consume the “creepers.”  Moses, in his lofty state, perhaps felt that no man would stoop to that level, and now he hears that it is altogether possible. Hence, the need for the commandment.

It was therefore necessary that G-d Himself “point” and show Moses the mystery of the “creepers” – These are the creeping things that creep on land which are [spiritually] impure to you – that even they are part of the Divine plan. And despite their lowly state, or rather precisely in their lowly state, they express the ultimate Divine omnipresence, that “there is nothing devoid of Him” (see Shemos Rabba 10:1).

As the mystics explain:

“The higher the level, the lower it falls.”

The lowly “creepers,” precisely because they descend into the depths and conceal the Divine, are spiritually rooted in the highest of levels; because only those levels could give birth to such lowly creatures. Only G-d can therefore reveal their power to Moses, by showing him how these creatures, by refraining from consuming them, can reveal profound dimensions.

This is also the deeper meaning in the Talmud: Only G-d Himself can discern the power within the “creepers,” as He did with the first-born of Egypt (“the depraved of the land”). Only G-d Himself – “not through an angel, not through a seraph, not through a messenger… I and none other” (as we recited at the Passover Seder) – can free us from the dark abyss called Egypt. So too, only G-d’s essence, can reveal the Divine within the lowly “creepers” and empower us with that ability.

And therefore, this power derived from the Divine essence – to elevate us and “bring us up” from the depravity of Egypt – is expressed more than anywhere else in the commandments of the “sherotzim,” in which human dignity is starkly distinguished from the lowly “creepers” of the earth. (1)

All the commandments in the Torah teach us how to be lofty human beings, to allow spirit to transcend over matter (see Tanya chapter 32). But some mitzvot focus on the lofty and teach us how to cultivate our faith and love. Others educate us how to avoid various temptations of the material universe.

But only the commandment of “sherotzim” teaches us that we can enter the “lowest” of worlds and face the darkest forces and still maintain our dignity and spiritual integrity. We don’t have to ignore the earthy creatures; we engage them, identify them, and actually use them as a study in contrast, to not defile ourselves and lift ourselves to higher places, distinguishing us from the creeping creatures of the earth.

Of all the mitzvoth in the Torah only the commandment to refrain from the “creepers” expresses by contrast the ultimate dignity and exalted state achieved through the exodus from Egypt (For I am the Lord Who (lifted you out of) brought you up from Egypt to be your G-d) – that despite the fact that we live in and interact with the lowly forces of the world (creepers) we choose to live refined lives, with our eyes to heaven, elevating and sanctifying our environments and even the earth itself.

Thus the three things that disturbed Moses cover the spectrum of the mysteries of existence, which divide into three categories: (2)

1)     The mystery of creation: How a new birthing takes place (the new moon).

2)     The mystery of unity: How the endless multiplicity of the universe can co-exist and be integrated with the indivisibility of the Divine. How the finite mundane can fuse with the infinite spirit. How the material can be a source of light (the Menorah).

3)     The mystery of evil: How we can survive – and thrive – amidst the lowest forces that “creep” on the earth.

To address these three quandaries the Divine “finger” (G-d Himself) “pointed” and showed Moses the new moon (the secret of birthing), the Menorah (unity) and the “sherotzim” (darkness).

Once these secrets were revealed to Moses, the doors were opened to benefit us all. Through Moses we too are empowered in these three areas: To experience new birthings (see The New Moon); to reveal unity and illuminate the universe (see Menorah); and – what concerns us this week – how to deal with the creepy experiences in our lives.

Inevitably, we will all have encounter dark moments in our lives. We will meet and be challenged by more difficult people and experiences. It would be nice if we were able to avoid or escape these unpleasant times. But that is not possible in our world. So the only two options are: Will we be overcome by these challenges or will we grow through them?

Know that you were not the first to be troubled by this dilemma. Many years ago a man named Moses confronted the first creeps, and he had a remarkable encounter that changed history forever.

He learned that the lowliest of creatures helps us appreciate the Divine and facilitates our growth by propelling us to rise to unprecedented dignified heights.

We too can use the difficult challenges in our lives as springboards to celebrate and express our own majesty, and in the process elevate our entire universe.

May our creepy creatures feel redeemed.

 


 

(1) This perhaps can also explain why the Talmud emphasizes that the episode took place in “Sura of Euphrates” (the city of Sura that sits on the bank of the Euphrates River): The Euphrates, like the “creeping creatures,” embodies paradox; the highest and lowest of levels – see The River Euphrates.

(2) See Gur Aryeh Leviticus 11:2, that these three difficulties all reflect dimensions that are outside of the normal realm of existence.

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Question of the Week: How do you deal with a difficult person in your life who you can’t avoid?

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Joy
16 years ago

This person recognizes me as someone she cannot control, and make me go away no matter the bad things she says or does. I was bewildered as to how to handle such a person until one day, I just very sweetly used the attitude bring it on; youd be surprised how much I am not intending to react to you anymore. All I said was: You know, I could just leave and go home and not ever have to deal with this kind of aggravation again, but I know how much you need me here, so therefore I am not leaving. Her actions are now not as overt and I more easily ignore them.

m. fishman
16 years ago

Thats what Dr. laura tells so many people. We all have pple in our lives whom we cant stand for whatever reason. Just be polite; dont engage; be polite.

Eileen Neiman
16 years ago

I would like a copy of the answers to the question on Dealing with Difficult people you cant avoid.

Laurie
16 years ago

I just spoke with a doctor in Europe at 6 am USA time just because we share a patient that gives us both the creeps. This doctor reminded me how important it would be for both of us to stay connected because the history of trauma in a family can take over other people. If we want to be of service we cannot let these people take over and dominate our energy. There is a tendency of people who have undergone trauma to live in the dynamics of perpertrator-victim consciousness. They do not know how to contain emotions and still share there experience. Because of this people around them will either avoid them or judge them or try to fix them and/or control them. This dynamic is creepy. In addition to trying to stay deeply connected to our body, soul and Ha Shem we need to be aware of how we all effect one another.

Last night I had a dream where Ha Shem told me in no uncertain terms that it was my responsibility to stay in an intimate relationship with Ha Shem above all other people on this planet. If I stay connected to my emotions and contain them and also stay in a relationship with Ha Shem then I will be more able to be around people that induce the creeps without taking it personally or being harsh or judgemental.

Graciela
16 years ago

The only creeps I ever met and still meet had and have two legs! I guess that is why Moses could not recognize the creeping creatures either, he saw nothing creepy in them, by then he had met enough of his enlightened, higher and majestic brethren to know better.

Mort Horowitz
16 years ago

As humans, we are naturally gregarious. We are fond of the company of others; we are naturally social beings. However, as we are all made in the image of G-D, and we are a product of his invention, we must preserve our mental and physical well being.

If interacting with others becomes mentally or physically stressful, we muist develope a strategy of self preservation against mental and physical onslaughts from others.

Ive developed a strategy that helps me. I give of myself to others inversely proportional to the amount of love that I perceive them to give me. I LIMIT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, if I perceive that they are not giving of themselves to the degree that I expect from them!

mordi
13 years ago

It sounds nice , but people who upset my peace of mind i avoid, especially if they are evil. i believe that the torah even has situations where you are meant to kill people.Naturally these are in extremes. But i do not believe that the issue is black and white. That leaves room for one to avoid evil.

But that is just me. And probably 99 out 100 are the same. While the article may inspire us to do better, i have a deaf ear to the message. My advice: If oyu see evil run from it. If you are pestered by a creep, extricate yourself so that you need not act upon your upset.

Isaac Ashkenazy
13 years ago

The difficult person is my perception – so the task is how to change that perception within me. The dificult person him/herself is a factor beyond my capability to influence. The Tikun (correction) is always a Tikun Atsmi – a Self Correction! The only world one perceives is his world through his senses. And the connection mentioned in your article on creeps, and honestly in ALL your wonderful commentaries – is the true and glorious connection beyond the physical mundane senses. Only then will the depth of understanding of seeing on a clear day – and seeing forever – will be grasped. This is the true inner awakening…and G-d speed to all. Friends its always up to us first as individuals to make the corrections within ourselves. Correspondingly we will witness the results in our environment – our families, society, and nature. Thank you MLC for years of earnest relationship.

Dr. Miriam Adahan
13 years ago

Just as there are signs of kosher animals, there are signs of kosher Jews according to the prophet Michah – i.e., modest, charitable and compassionate. If those 3 signs are missing, its best to be distant or nosh (nice and shallow).

janet muir
13 years ago

Thank you for such an article.

AP
13 years ago

One of the things I learned by many years of practicing it, was trying to visualize enveloping the people or the person around me as an energy or flame with Pink and Violet color before I encounter them, I visualize myself as being sealed in a Force-field of protection with Blue and White colors(Purity, Will of G-d, Faith & Protection), and fill up this hollow space within my circle with Pink light(Love). I learn to not take any words or actions against me or my beliefs as personal, I could only look through their eyes as compassion and forgiveness to the spirit within the person. I started seeing how powerful this worked with difficult people, and their attitudes change nowadays almost immediately. Much patience is required but it works. As a quick example, the person at the counter of the post office in my town is usually in a bad mood with customers, people often try to skip the guy to the next counter person, but he shouts out to obey the line, his bad attitude scares people away and there are often complaints… but it seems that this guys owns the local post office, he makes bad comments out loud so people can start shaking before they get to him. At first I prefered to make the long line for the automated postal machine… but I knew I had to face him some day and tried… so during the line short line, I started visualizing him with much love and forgiveness.. with this pink energy around him and around me.. so when we met, he just looked at me and smile. From that day on, something changed in that man.

Esther Sarah Evans
13 years ago

bH
Interesting are the attempts of man to relate to these creepy crawlies and render them more or less so. The mouse – to whom it is easier to relate because of fur at least, and legs – has inspired poets like Robert Burns – Ye sleekit cowrin, timorous beastie, What fear is in thy tiny breastie – and a comic strip authors who created the seemingly immortal Mickey Mouse to whom every child in the world perhaps relates and also Tom and Jerry (wow, who could do without Jerry?). Real-live cats also tend to play with rather than actually eat mice, although many eventually do. The mice are a definite challenge to the Yetzer hara of the cat who is extremely playful by nature (even an old cat can have a ball with a dry leaf)to play, even if this constitutes cruelty in the form of trauma and torture to the mouse. The mole is something cats may chase a bit for fun, but they will never eat it apparently. My cat and probably yours plays with and kills the other creepy crawlies, and for that I am grateful. Barukh HaShem, no matter how well fed a cat is, its playful nature will cause it to deal with these creatures primarily by means of his or her claws.
Extremely interesting in terms of elevation was a discovery HaShem helped me make over Purim. As you probably know, cats usually avoid things containing vitamin C, especially in large quantities. Over Purim my kitty took to eating potato chips, which she likes broken up and strewn over her other food. She comes running at the very sound of them usually. Potatoes, even in chip form, contain a lot of vitamin C. A friend of mine who is allergic to citrus feeds up on potatoes for her vitamin C. From the time that my kitty started eating potato chips, her already loving personality has become more so – i.e. more loving, sometimes downright considerate, and her innate modesty has also become even more so. Yes, even a cat is what he or she eats. I would just add here that the ability of a cat to understand abstract things and abstractly told emotional things also appears to be further enhanced by the potato chips containing vitamin C. Also, my cat, who mainly eats kosher food that I give her is already refined by that.
A human being, who tends toward depression, can become a manic depressive nature and quite liable to suicide – therefore prey to all the dark side of human nature – whereas, as smart insane asylum personnel know, mega-doses of vitamin C can save and stabilize even the manic depressive.
To a manic depressive with an allergy to citrus, a good big bag of even seemingly junk food potato chips could mean being saved from gehinnon in every sense of the word. That might give some parents and other educators the creeps, but just tuck that away, and carry a bag of chips to add to your pep talk when you meet someone contemplating suicide. Clean, cut and dried goodness especially for some folks and protection against falling prey to the creepy crawlies, if you know what I mean.

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