There is a famous expression (which generally means that it expresses some truth): "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Which means that an object or situation isn't always loaded with deep, hidden meanings. It is certainly true that one must be on guard to not over-think/analyze how someone says -- or doesn't say -- "good morning". In fact, many arguments could be avoided by simply responding, "good morning" and then getting on with your life.
That's mundane day to day life. In Torah, which gives us so few words about such great people and powerful events, we need to weigh and analyze each and every scenario. Particularly because the Torah narratives are about such big events, when small -- seemingly trivial -- details are mentioned, one must sit up and take notice. Why in the world does the Torah feel this detail is something that is critical for me to know for the perfection of my soul?
For example, consider this great parasha question that is a bit tricky: we find three times that an important person saddled his own donkey. (The Ibn Ezra says in each case that the person really told his servants to saddle his donkey, but we are going to work with Rashi.) Name each case and why he did it.
One: Avraham Avinu in preparation for the Akeida. Rashi explains that Avraham Avinu got up early to saddle his own donkey because אהבה מקלקלת השורה/love ... sorry, there is no good translation for this phrase. It means that when I am motivated by love, anything -- including normal standards of dignified conduct -- are irrelevant if they keep me from expressing my love. So Avraham saddled his own donkey. If he is going to make the ultimate sacrifice and give that which is most precious to him to the One whom he loves above all else, then everything has to be perfect, so every detail requires his personal attention.
Two: Bilaam, the epitome of evil. Bilaam is also motivated by passion, the passion of deep hatred. Here Rashi comments that שנאה מקלקלת השורה/hatred... again, a simple translation fails me. Bilaam has such a deep hatred for Klal Yisrael that he wants to savor every moment and detail of his plan to destroy them.
Three: Yosef HaTzadik personally hitched the horses to his chariot to go to greet his father, Yaakov Avinu. (That's what makes this a trick question. I could have asked for the three times that an important person prepared his own means of transportation... but, come on.... it sounds much better to ask the way I did. Moreover, I've asked the question to several people and no one balked. More moreover, חֲמוֹר/donkey is related to חוֹמֶר/matter, and our holy texts note that saddling a donkey sometimes means taking charge and using the physical world. So... still a trick question, but it makes a nice point.) Rashi tells us that Yosef HaTzadik wanted to לְהִזְדָּרֵז/hasten himself in his first opportunity honor to his father in 13 years.
The Torah gives us three models that demonstrate how passion translates into action. When we are truly passionate, there are no mundane and trivial details.
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