It’s a thought that echoes through the ancient wisdom of Vayikra Rabbah (Leviticus Rabbah), a Midrashic collection interpreting the book of Leviticus.
Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon, a sage from the early centuries CE, grapples with an apparent contradiction regarding Torah scholars. How can one verse say, "Black like ravens," seemingly portraying them negatively, while another proclaims, "His appearance is like Lebanon, choice like cedar" (Song of Songs 5:15), and yet another, "Their appearance is like torches, they dash like lightning" (Nahum 2:5)? Is it possible to reconcile such different descriptions?
Rabbi Yehuda resolves it beautifully: these verses speak of Torah personalities, how they appear in this world versus how they will be revealed in the future. In this world, they might seem "ugly and black"—perhaps misunderstood, unappreciated, or even scorned. But in the future, their true worth will shine forth, "their appearance is like torches."
But the interpretation doesn't stop there. Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak extends this idea to the very portions of the Torah themselves. Think about it: Leviticus, specifically, deals with some pretty…earthy topics. Discharges, leprosy (tzara'at), menstruation (niddah), childbirth… these aren't exactly the subjects you’d expect to find in a sacred text, right? They might even seem "too ugly and black" to recite publicly.
Yet, God sees something different. Despite their seemingly unappealing nature, the Holy One, blessed be He, says: "They are pleasant to Me." It’s a surprising statement, but it speaks volumes. How do we know this? The proof, according to Rabbi Shmuel, lies in the very structure of the text. "The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord…" (Malachi 3:4), and the portions regarding male and female discharges are not stated as one. Instead, the Torah dedicates separate, specific passages: "Any man, when he has a discharge from his flesh" (Leviticus 15:2), and "And a woman, if her bloody discharge will flow…" (Leviticus 15:25). This separation, this detailed attention, underscores their importance.
The message here is profound. Even the parts of life we might find uncomfortable, embarrassing, or even disgusting have a place in the divine plan. The Torah doesn't shy away from the messy realities of human existence; it embraces them, elevates them, and finds holiness within them. What might seem "ugly and black" on the surface, the halakhot (laws) of discharges, menstruation, and the like, are actually "pleasant" to God.
So, what does this mean for us? Perhaps it’s a reminder to look beyond appearances, to find the beauty and value in unexpected places. Maybe it’s an invitation to embrace all aspects of life, the pleasant and the unpleasant, knowing that even in the messiness, there is holiness to be found. And perhaps, it's a comfort to know that even when we feel misunderstood or unappreciated, our true worth, like the light of a torch, will eventually shine through.