We had just arrived at a Sheva Berachot reception in our honor during the week after our wedding. The host opened the door for us with a smile and graciously exclaimed, “Welcome to my home!” I can still picture his wife’s expression as she corrected, “OUR home.”
When asked how things are going, most successful businessmen will simply reply, “Doing well.” Others will respond to the same question with, “Thank G-d, business is good.”
Now, the second answer is a bit out of place. What are you thanking G-d for? It’s your business! If you have a great price for merchandise, you have your brains or communication skills to credit. If you made a killing on the stock market, it’s because of the choices you made. Where does G-d come in?
But really, seeing one’s financial success as “my business” is like welcoming people to “my home”. It reflects disregard for the contribution of one’s partner, a lack of appreciation and recognition of the other’s role. For in every human endeavor, the Hand of G-d is present. Have you ever planned something perfectly only to see it fall apart inexplicably? Have you ever come across an excellent opportunity “by chance”? Can any businessman truly claim that his success is directly proportional to his wisdom and hard work? An honest individual will acknowledge his Partner, thanking G-d for bringing opportunities his way and allowing his efforts to bear fruit.
In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the Tower of Babel. This was a structure of colossal proportions, built by a generation which sought to reach the heavens and “fight against G-d”. But the tower was more than a physical tool for waging war; it symbolized their strength and might. Essentially, they were making a statement: This world has no authority. We are masters of our own destiny. We can do whatever we want.
This blatant denial of G-d’s sovereignty resulted in the disintegration of society. Suddenly, a variety of languages sprung up amongst the people, and a once united group now found itself incapable of communicating. The project was abandoned and the population split up, eventually becoming scattered all over the world. Having once thought they were indomitable, the builders of the tower were shown that indeed, G-d runs the universe.
Today, too, the failure to recognize G-d’s involvement in the world threatens to destroy the very fabric of society. For one who sees himself as the master of his own destiny is liable to be the master of his own morality as well. The acknowledgment of G-d as a partner in every area of life leads to appreciation and gratitude for success and good fortune, brings more integrity to the business world, and ultimately sustains civilization.
We are all tempted to build a Tower of Babel and glorify our talents and achievements. But let us instead look upward and see how small we really are. That would be a real success.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendy
