Seeing the Unseen

This past Wednesday, I had the privilege of joining an educational tour about the halachot of Eruv. Until Wednesday, I thought of an Eruv the way most people probably do — it was just there. A wire on a pole in the air, something functional that allows us to carry on Shabbat.

But then I learned about lechis, the intricate halachic guidelines for connecting different areas, and the constant effort required to maintain an Eruv. Some parts were simple; others required serious problem-solving. By the end of the tour I was intrigued, not only at the depth of halachic engineering, but at the dedication it takes to create and sustain something that most people don’t give two seconds of thoughts about.

And that got me thinking: How many things in life are “just there”?

We wake up in the morning and flip a light switch. We don’t think about the power stations, the transmission lines, or the people working overnight shifts to keep the grid in operation. We shop at the supermarket for fruits and vegetables, without seeing the farmer or the numerous middlemen along the way.

I am studying Parshat Vayikra, which introduces us to the world of korbanot. To the regular ear, korbanot can seem like an abstract, ancient ritual – something far removed from our daily lives. But korbanot weren’t just about sacrifices; they were about recognition, as they forced a person to stop and acknowledge something deeper – where their blessings came from, what went unnoticed in their life, and how their actions had consequences.

Take the Korban Todah, for example. This wasn’t just brought when someone felt grateful in a vague sense. It was required in specific situations – after surviving a dangerous journey, recovering from an illness, being released from prison, or crossing the sea safely.

How often do we go through life without that moment of recognition? How many times do we experience near misses—an almost-accident, a health scare, a crisis at work that just barely resolved itself—and move on without a second thought? The Korban Todah teaches us that gratitude isn’t just about saying “thanks” when things go well; it’s about stopping to acknowledge what could have been and appreciating what is.

Or consider the Korban Chatat. This wasn’t for intentional sins – only for mistakes. The Torah understands that we mess up, but instead of saying, “Well, it was an accident, so no biggie,” the korban forces us to pause and take responsibility. It reminded us that even unintentional actions have real consequences.

Korbanot and learning about an Eruv are a way for us to appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. Without being weird, the next time I plug in my phone, I should pause to appreciate how far the electricity had to travel to get to me. Maybe, when I walk past an Eruv, I should appreciate the people who maintain it. Maybe, when something goes right in my life, instead of just moving on, I should take a second to acknowledge the many hidden hands that made it possible.

Because the positive things that happen in our life that are “just there” aren’t just there. They are reminders that God wants good for you – but only if you take the time to “see them”.

Shabbat Shalom!