Elul Day 12
Dear Elul Writers,
If I told you that there was a Jewish text where God is imagined as an old purveyor of essential oils, you might guess that it was the work of Cynthia Ozick or Etgar Keret or Isaac Bashevis Singer. Well, guess again, English major. This particular parable comes from the Babylonian Talmud. One thing that you have to admire about the sages-of-old is that they were not afraid of a Divine metaphor. God could be a teacher or a ruler or a midwife or, as the case may be, a seller of oils. The short parable from Masechet Yoma is meant to impart a lesson about the pleasure that the Holy One takes in our teshuvah.
It is taught in the name of the house of R’ Yishmael, that a peddler of oils might sell both balsam oil and kerosene. Balsam oil provides one of the most luxurious and desirable odors in the world, while the smell of kerosene is harsh and unpleasant. So, when a customer comes into the stall asking to refill their vessel with kerosene the shopkeeper is likely to point towards the container in the corner and say, “measure it out for yourself.” But, when someone comes in with a bottle that needs more balsam oil, the merchant will say, “Wait, let me measure that out with you so that you and I will both be perfumed in the process.”
There is something particularly sweet about this image of the Holy One acting like a friendly and attentive sales clerk in a head shop. “Wait a second, friend. Let me help you with that patchouli.” When we approach the Kadosh Baruch Hu with humility, with a desire for closeness, it is like we have come in for our aromatic, essential oils to be refilled; everyone can potentially be perfumed in the process.
Prompt
This story fits nicely within a rabbinic sub-genre where the work of teshuvah is done in partnership with the Kadosh Baurch Hu. Elsewhere we are told that all we need to do is open up the tiniest doorway for teshuvah and that the Holy One will do the rest. But, I am drawn to this retail metaphor because the end result is mutually beneficial, everyone is touched by the fragrant scent. In what ways could you use some assistance as you seek to refill your reserves? Can you imagine your approach, your desire for teshuvah as a source of pleasure to the Holy One? Not happy with the service in this essential oil, how might you ask for help?
Take care,
Jordan