A Life Lesson from Steve Jobs
In the opening pages of his biography, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, reflects candidly on his adoption. He recalls a chilling moment when he was about six or seven years old. He told the girl across the street that he was adopted, and she replied, “So does that mean your real parents didn’t want you?”
“Lightning bolts went off in my head,” he said. “I remember running into the house, crying. My parents said, ‘No, you have to understand.’ They were very serious and looked me straight in the eye, ‘We specifically picked you out.’”
He never felt abandoned; his parents always made him feel special. This episode transformed Steve’s perspective on life, ultimately leading him to become a visionary pioneer of the personal computer revolution and creating one of the world’s most successful companies.
In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, we learn about the allocation of the land of Israel among the Jewish people in anticipation of their conquest of the land. As the verse states, “You shall apportion the Land among these as an inheritance, in accordance with the number of names. To the large [tribe] you shall give a larger inheritance and to a smaller tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance, each person shall be given an inheritance according to his number. Only through lot shall the Land be apportioned; they shall inherit it according to the names of their fathers' tribes (Numbers 26:53-55)".
Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105, Troyes, France), explains that the allocation process took into account the population size and unique needs of each tribe to ensure that everyone received a portion of land that was fitting for them both quantitatively and qualitatively. For example, the tribes who worked as farmers were allocated fertile land, and the tribe that excelled in business import and export received the seashore with convenient access to shipping.
However, the Torah points out that although the land was divided proportionally to population size and needs, the allocation process was confirmed only by a lottery. Miraculously, each tribe received the portion that was originally meant for them.
As you can imagine, since the plots of land were not identical, there was plenty of room for fighting and jealousy. To avoid this outcome, before confirming the allocation process, G-d instructed Moshe to divide the land by a Divine lottery: the names of the twelve tribes were written down and placed in one box, and the coordinates of the plots of land were placed in a second box. Then, pairs of lots—one from each box—were drawn. A Temple priest was there to prophesy each pick, ensuring faith in the lottery’s divine accuracy.
Each family knew that their plot of land, with its advantages and disadvantages, was meant for them. Instead of comparing and complaining, they embraced it.
Conquering the land of Canaan by the Jewish people and its transformation into Israel, a holy land where the connection to G-dliness and goodness is apparent, reflects our task in the world at large. The intent of the creation of the world is to transform this physical world into a home for G-d, a place where G-d feels comfortable and reveals Himself completely, as people fully reveal and express themselves in their own homes.
G-d entrusts each of us with a portion of the world that we must transform into a “mini-Israel.” We are each given the talents, gifts, and capabilities needed to fulfill our purpose in life. Instead of comparing our lives to others and wishing we had achieved someone else’s successes, we should recognize and be thankful for our own lot. Ultimately, only by accepting and embracing our divine mission can we truly live a happy and meaningful life.
Later in the Torah, before Moses passes away, he turns to the Jewish people and declares: “See, I have set before you life and goodness, and death and evil…And you shall choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15-19).”
On a surface level, Moses is beseeching the Jewish people to avoid evil and make the correct choices throughout their lives. However, upon further reflection, Moses is also teaching them a deeper truth about life. At every moment, we can choose to see our situation as a challenging setback or as an opportunity for growth. It is our choice to see the positive and embrace our life’s mission joyfully.
In the Jewish calendar, we are now in the period called The Three Weeks. It represents a time of mourning for the Jewish people as we recall the destruction of both the First Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the Second Temple by the Romans over two thousand years ago.
While this period is primarily marked as a time of mourning, reflection, and introspection, it is also a time of hope and anticipation for the rebuilding of the Third Temple soon with the coming of Redemption.
Every challenge brings opportunities as well. On the one hand, these two thousand years of exile have been very challenging as the Jewish people faced expulsions, crusaders, Cossacks, the Holocaust, communism, and the current war against terrorism we are now fighting.
On the other hand, this period of exile has brought out the determination, strength, perseverance, and beauty of our people. As many tyrants, dictators, and evil empires have come and gone, the Jewish people continue to stand proud and thrive as we embrace our faith and heritage and teach the world about belief in G-d, ethics, morals, kindness, philanthropy, and serving as “a light unto the nations” as expressed through the teachings of the Torah and the performance of Mitzvot. Over time, many of these divine truths have become ingrained in the very fabric of our society.
Our Sages state that in the era of Redemption, this period of mourning will be transformed into a holiday when we will appreciate the deeper meaning behind all the suffering we have endured and reap the reward of all our cumulative work during these past few millennia.
A principal difference between Exile and Redemption is our perspective. Imagine turning on the light in a previously dark palace, giving you the ability to appreciate the skillfully designed architecture and to partake of the delicious delicacies available. In the era of Redemption, the metaphoric lights of the world will be ignited enabling us to appreciate the true beauty and inherent value of all creations.
Let us pray and do an additional Mitzvah in merit of the return of our hostages, for the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world, and for the coming of Moshiach now!
