"Ki karov aylecha hadavar me'od be'ficha u'be'levavcha la'asotho.""Rather, the matter is very near to you - in your mouth and heart to perform it." Deuteronomy 30:14
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The Zera Baruch writes in the name of the Megaleh Amukoth that
the rashei teivoth (first letters) of the phrase “zero’oth reshayim
te’shabernah” (the arms of the wicked shall be broken) spells the word
zereth which means small (pinky) finger. This small finger symbolizes
Esav. The entire world is compared to a hand and Israel its thumb
(godel). Just as the thumb is separate and distinct from the other
fingers on the hand, so too Israel is unique and set apart from the other
four mighty kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome) whose smallest is
Esav (Rome) symbolized by the pinky finger. The seventy nations of the world have heavenly ministers who act as intermediaries between the nations and Hashem; Israel has chosen to be directly attached to Hashem without any intermediary. Therefore, Israel is enjoined to not intermingle with other nations and to remain a nation set apart because she reflects Hashem, who is one and whose name is one. Our verse is instructive for it states, “I will call to Hashem;” the singular tense is used because it refers to only Israel calling out to Hashem directly. The verse continues by stating that a godel (thumb, an allusion to Israel) shall be given to “our G-d.” In this context, Hashem is mentioned as Israel’s G-d to emphasize the imperative upon Israel to rely on Hashem alone. Just as the thumb is set apart from the other four fingers, so too must the Jewish people set themselves apart from relying upon an intermediary to achieve closeness to Hashem.
This is a interesting insight from my good friend, Sol, from Queens. Although (possibly) heretical in nature because its roots are Darwinian, the majestic truth and Torah beauty which can be gleaned from this piece makes it worth posting. Enjoy and G'mar Tov to all. All creatures on earth develop and adapt in accordance with their need to survive. They continuously seek to enhance their innate and acquired skills. If one inspects his own hand, its thumb is one such necessary and indeed "creative" appendage. The thumb gives strength to the hand. Unaided, the other digits don't work well with each other; together with the thumb, the hand has the ability to grasp, pound, and create. The thumb thus empowers man to surpass any other creature by allowing him to expand his creative endeavors. Without the thumb, the hand would be much less of a tool, for it is the thumb, with its "weightier" might (or "mightier" weight), that gives balance and strength to its lesser neighbors. Israel is the world's thumb. As such, it must stand alone and remain apart. If it does not, the hand of humanity can not hope to strive or be worthy.
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