Hiddur Mitzvah: Color and Spice–and Everything Nice

The extensive descriptions of the sanctuary in the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible),^[1] and the descriptions of the appointment of the priests and their vestments is filled with color, artistic skill, and an emphasis on beauty. The ancient Sages spoke of hiddur mitzvah,^[2] “enhancing and beautifying the performance of an act.” That could apply equaling to a ritual act or a general deed of loving kindness.

The late Dr. Burton White^[3] conducted 37 years of research on the development of abilities during the first three years of life and was a true innovator in the field of early childhood education. He reported on exposing institutionalized infants to various forms of color in their surroundings. He found that bringing a little color into the lives of these infants born and reared for four months in the bland surroundings of a state hospital had a remarkable effect. Instead of being listless and phlegmatic, as such babies often are, these infants were more alert and showed normal progress. The dullness and flatness in institutionalized babies may come not only from the absence of a mother but from the infant’s limited opportunity to explore how the world looks and feels.

Judaism has always advocated the importance of color and of variety. On Shabbat, for example, we change the menu of our meals. We all have traditions of a Shabbat dinner meal. Every Friday night growing up my mother served chicken. For variety, my mother served chicken differently: sometimes roasted chicken, sometimes sesame chicken, sometimes chicken cacciatore, among others. Shabbat gave spice to our week, but even Shabbat needs spicing up sometimes so it does not become dull or merely routine.

Changing the menu is something we do at services, as well. While some prayers (the Sh’ma, for example) are done at every Friday evening and Saturday morning service at CAH, other prayers–both Hebrew prayers and English readings–are varied to provide spice. Sometimes this is done in keeping with the Jewish calendar (Chanukah has a different energy than does Rosh HaShanah!); sometimes it is done with how we construct a service around a theme; sometimes it is done to promote variety. We also do this by changing the melodies. For example, rather than singing the exact same melody for L’cha Dodi every single week no matter what, we have the practice of using a variety of melodies.

Moses Chayim Luzzato,^[4] the great Italian Jewish figure, taught that “a ceremony is not adequately discharged unless it is performed with beauty and dignity.” That is, every ritual should offer us color and spice, can be precious, and promote a possible “kodesh moment,” a moment of insight and inspiration.

So as we end our season of fall holy days, I invite you to think about what areas of your life you might consider adding color, spice, beauty? What could use a makeover? How might you make prayer more satisfying? Which relationships could benefit from a new shared experience? And how might you bring more color, spice, and beauty to our CAH family? How might you contribute more or differently? In November we’ll be starting up a new regimen of classes; perhaps one will speak to you. Perhaps you’ll come to a holiday service you haven’t been to in a while, or sit in a different seat, or try to learn a Jewish skill you haven’t done before (e.g. lighting Shabbat candles on Friday night).

The book of Psalms^[5] advises us to “number our days,” but rather than counting each day we’ve been granted this year, it might be wiser to try to make each day count. It turns out, hiddur mitzvah is not only a great way to approach a mitzvah; it’s also a great way to live life.

Rabbi J.B. Sacks

^[1] Exodus, chapters 26-31 and chapters 35-40.

^[2] The concept is derived from Exodus 15:2, which states, “This is my G!d, and I shall beautify G!d.” The Rabbis wondered, “Can G!d really be improved upon and made more beautiful?” So they reinterpreted the verse to mean, “I will beautify myself for G!d’s sake.” So, for example, we do not just erect a sukkah, we decorate it. We not only light Shabbat candles, we try to get candle sticks we find appealing. The amount of applications to how we can beautify our activities, even seemingly mundane ones, is probably infinite.

^[3] Dr. Burton L. White (1929-2013) was a child psychologist who studied the social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development of babies from birth to three years and was an innovator in the field of early childhood education. He wrote a number of best-selling books, including The First Three Years of Life, which was made into the television series, The First Three Years.

^[4] Rabbi Moses Chaim Luzzato (1707-1746), known as the RaMCHaL, was a prominent philosopher and kabbalist. Born in Padua (Italy). He is best known for his work Mesillat Yesharim (“The Path of the Just”), an ethical treatise that helps one to deepen themselves ethically and spiritually step by step. It is still widely read and studied today.

^[5] Psalm 90:12.