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Rabbi Dovid S. Polter, Community Chaplain
Face Value
Shavuot Issue
"The value of one's face is irreplaceable" is a quote by Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb. Gebbia has noted the value of face-to-face (F2F) marketing can create authentic connections, provide memorable experiences, and build lasting relationships with an audience. F2F marketing also allows for two-way communication and non-verbal cues like body language. Facial expressions can play a significant role in communication and building trust.
The value of one’s face is irreplaceable, especially during times like these when people are facing one another in person less and less. King David often longed to face G-d’s countenance. The following is a beautiful description of the value and purpose of one’s face, written by my dear colleague, Mr. Marty Goodman.
“I find it most unusual that the Hebrew word for face, “Panim,” is plural. This seems strange, since a person only has one face. So why is the word presented in the plural sense? I think that the word tells us a great deal about our faces. Somehow though we only have one face it has many different facets. Happy face, sad face, sleepy face, angry face, questioning face, the list goes on and on.”
“There are also situations and expressions that connect with our faces. We tell people to face the facts, or to face the consequences. In the military when we want someone to turn around, the command is, ‘about face.’ When we want someone to accept something as it is, we tell them to face it. If a person has erred, they may be shamefaced. When a woman puts on makeup she is painting her face. If a person is disingenuous, he may be referred to as two-faced. When a person is embarrassed, the blood rushes to their face and they become flushed, red-faced. If a person has erred, we tell them that they must face the music. Then there is faceless, lacking character or individuality.”
“We would do well to encourage friends and family to realize the value of face-to-face contact. There is so much to be learned."
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Seventy Faces to Torah
The upcoming holiday of Shavuot (evening of June 11th until the evening of June 13th) marks the giving of the Torah of which we are told has seventy faces. There are seventy general ways of interpreting everything in The Torah. These seventy faces then divide into six hundred thousand ways of interpreting the Torah.
Torah teaches us to always be sensitive to an interpretation of another. Neither are the opinions nor the faces of people ever alike. Based on the general guidelines of the Torah, everyone through their life challenges and experiences sees something else on the pages of Torah. Torah being Divine wisdom leaves space and opportunity for everyone to discover their commentary and application. Torah responds to each accordingly and fitting with that which they need to hear, to know and to be reminded.
As a positive resolution, accept upon yourself a new opportunity to study Torah.
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