Literature Network » Anton Chekhov

D'var Torah; Lessons of wilderness

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From: Washington Jewish Week
Date: 20050602
Author:Anonymous

Anton Chekhov, in trying to explain why people carve or paint their names into trees and rocks, wrote that humans cannot bear being powerless against nature. By imprinting one's name, one falsely assumes ownership and control over the great mystery and power of the natural forces that can never be reined in by man.

Bearing Chekhov in mind, we turn to a beautiful midrash on the beginning of this week's Torah reading; it states that the Torah is acquired through three agencies: fire, water and wilderness.

Fire conjures an image of passion; water conveys immersion and cool rationality. ...

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