It’s a question that’s echoed down the centuries, and one that the ancient rabbis grappled with too. In Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Leviticus, we find a beautiful and surprisingly resilient answer, all wrapped up in the image of a lily.
Rabbi Avin, a sage of the 4th and 5th centuries CE, paints this image with a gardener’s care. He says that "Just as the lily, when it is subject to heat it withers, and when dew emerges it blossoms, so too, as long as the shadow of Esau is extant, Israel, as it were, appears as though they are withered in this world, but in the future, Esau’s shadow will pass and Israel will become progressively damper. That is what is written: 'I will be like dew for Israel [it shall blossom as a lily]' (Hosea 14:6)."
Now, who is this Esau? In Jewish tradition, Esau, the brother of Jacob, often represents the oppressive forces that have threatened the Jewish people throughout history. So, Rabbi Avin is saying that as long as these forces are powerful, we might appear weakened, even withered. But, like a lily revived by dew, our time will come. The dew, in this case, symbolizes God's grace and the promise of redemption. It’s a powerful image of hope, drawn directly from the prophet Hosea.
But the metaphor doesn’t stop there. The lily, it turns out, is a multi-layered symbol. According to Rabbi Avin, "Just as the lily continues to exist only due to its fragrance, so too, Israel continues to exist only on the basis of Torah and mitzvot." Here, fragrance isn't just a pleasant aroma; it represents the essence of our being – the teachings of the Torah and the good deeds, the mitzvot, that we perform. Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and by extension, Jewish learning in general. Mitzvot are commandments or good deeds. It's through these that we maintain our vitality.
And it goes even deeper. "Just as the lily is only for fragrance, so too, the righteous were created only for the redemption of Israel." The righteous, the tzadikim, are not just good people; they're integral to the larger story of redemption. They are, in a sense, fragrant lilies whose very existence contributes to the ultimate blossoming of the Jewish people.
Rabbi Avin continues, "Just as the lily ascends on the table of kings from beginning to end, so too, Israel, they are in this world and they are in the World to Come." The lily's presence at the royal table, from the beginning to the end of the meal, symbolizes our enduring presence, both in this world and in the Messianic Age.
He adds, "Just as the lily is conspicuous among the grasses, so too, Israel is conspicuous among the nations, as it is stated: “Everyone who sees them will recognize them, for they are the descendants of the blessed of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:9)." The lily stands out, not because it's better, but because it's different, unique. And that uniqueness, according to Isaiah, is a sign of God's blessing.
Finally, "Just as the lily is designated for Shabbatot and festivals, so, Israel is designated for the future redemption." The lily, associated with sacred times, mirrors our own destiny, our ultimate purpose: to be part of the final, glorious redemption. Shabbatot is the plural of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.
So, what does this all mean? Is Rabbi Avin just offering a flowery sermon? I don't think so. He's offering a profound statement about resilience, identity, and hope. He's reminding us that even in the face of adversity, we have the capacity to blossom. That our strength lies in our traditions, our values, and our unwavering belief in a brighter future. Like the lily, we endure. We persist. We blossom. And our fragrance, the essence of our being, fills the world.