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GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS
OBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS
GL

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel
Mrs. Shira Smiles R abbanit R achelle Fraenk el

The Morality

of Esthetics

And from the ground the L-rd G-d obligation. The joy in the beauty of takes pleasure in it, and he takes plea-
caused to grow every tree that was nature and plants will bring us to rejoice sure in it because it is beautiful… mean-
pleasing to the sight and good for food, in moral beauty as well. In a society ing, the more intimate beauty which
with the Tree of Life in the middle of which does not show compassion comes from the harmonious order of
the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge toward beauty, man will grow wild.” its parts, and which pure intelligence
of good and bad. (Bereishit 2:9) can grasp.”
If we ascribe importance to beauty, will
n a subtle analysis, Rabbi Shimshon this advance us morally? How does this Esthetic, physical beauty and moral
Raphael Hirsch points out that the work? I find it difficult to avoid men- or spiritual beauty are two different
Itrees in Gan Eden are described first tioning the historical irony: Rav Hirsch spheres. But the pursuit of order, pro-
and foremost as “pleasing to the sight” – lived in Germany (1808–1888). That portion and harmony characterize both.
they are beautiful, esthetically pleasing, country, which excelled in valuing and
and only afterward are they “good for cultivating the culture of esthetics – art, Perhaps this is how we can understand
Rav Hirsch’s conclusion: “Man’s joy of
food” – providing fruits and the need poetry, music – did not turn out to be
for nourishment. “Here, in this verse, an example of moral excellence. The esthetic harmony is similar to his joy in
the perception of beauty was justified words of Natan Alterman’s poem “From moral harmony; indeed, there is no ‘evil,’
and sanctified,” he writes. “As far as we All of the Nations” echo in my mind: but brokenness and devastation – moral
know, man is the only creature endowed With the greatest concern for the sculp- harmony which has been disabled.”
with the capacity for deriving pleasure tures and art / Lest those treasures be If we train ourselves to notice and be
from beauty. This is how man’s supe- bombed in a raid. / But the heads of amazed by the harmony of the world,
rior level was revealed.” infants, precious treasures thou-art, our inclination will be to respect and
The Torah lauds beauty before func- / onto walls and roads crushed and seek harmony in all our conduct. Per-
tionality, and it seems that only human sprayed. haps the lesson from the failure of this
beings notice beauty and enjoy its Nevertheless, even if this idea did not idea in Germany is that loving and glo-
pleasure. The conclusion: this must be stand the test of history, what was Rav rifying harmony is not enough; it must
part of the uniqueness of man. When Hirsch trying to say? What was the be mitigated by yirat shamayim. In the
looking at a tree, before we see lunch, meaning of esthetics in his worldview words of Maimonides:
we stare in amazement. Wow! How and what could his understanding con- “When one reflects on His wonderful
beautiful is this tree! tribute to our value system? creatures and will understand through

“The beautiful forms found in Creation It seems that Rav Hirsch’s ideas grow them His wonderful, unparalleled and
and the ability of humans to sense and out of the classical philosophical belief infinite wisdom, he will spontaneously
enjoy them prevent man from deterio- that beauty stems from order and con- be filled with love, praise and exalta-
rating to the level of animals.” cord between elements. Harmony, pro- tion… then he will be taken aback in a
moment, and, stricken with awe, real-
Indeed, someone who tramples a flower portion and structure are what create ize that he is an infinitesimal creature,
bed without any appreciation for the the esthetic experience. This incredible humble... standing with an insignificant
delicate and the beautiful, is like a beast. harmony of mathematical composition knowledge in the presence of the All-
This perception, this recognition of is found in all of Creation and there- Wise” (Hilchot Yesodei haTorah 2:2).
beauty and the wish to protect it, pro- fore the entire world, made by G-d, is
tect us from arrogance and haughtiness. beautiful.

But Rav Hirsch doesn’t stop there. He The French scientist and philosopher
continues to develop this idea in a way Henri Poincaré wrote: “The scientist
that is quite baffling: “This proves the does not study nature because it is Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel teaches Torah
importance of beauty to man’s moral useful to do so. He studies it because he at midrashot in Israel.

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