We have been correctly accused of being a generation that
doesn’t take the time to stop and smell the flowers. The current challenging
time of social distancing has compelled us to slow down and has granted us the
opportunity to stop and smell the flowers. Most years we may not have much time
to appreciate the majestic beauty of this time of year of resurgence of life
with budding leaves, stunning colors on trees coming back to life, and brighter
sunshine.
One of
the symptoms of the Covid-19 virus is loss of smell and taste. Some patients
report that those were their only symptoms; they simply lost their sense of
smell and/or taste for a few days, until it slowly returned.
Our
sense of smell is far more powerful than we may realize.
Smells
have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses.
For example,
the smell of freshly cut grass can bring back childhood memories in starker
detail than watching a home video of those events.
We have
over 1,000 different types of smell receptors but only four types of light
sensors and about four types of receptors for touch.
In 2017,
scientists discovered that not only does the brain's smell center connect
directly to its memory center, but it also stores long-term memories. That’s why
the smell of something can immediately trigger and evoke vivid memories and intense
emotions.
Smelling
a certain food can evoke memories of a child experience, perhaps with
grandparents when that food was commonly served.
A friend
related that he once bought a new deodorant and was stunned that as soon as he
opened it he was filled with anxiety. He realized that decades earlier during a
difficult period of his adolescence, that was the deodorant he used. The smell
was enough to cause him to feel the intense anxiety he felt then.
When we
smell something it also allows us to anticipate something we may not see or
hear. The smell of gas can be an indication of a dangerous leak nearby. Carbon
monoxide detectors are important particularly because they have no odor.
On a
more positive note, one of the more enjoyable components of erev Shabbos and
erev Yom Tov is the beautiful smells of prepared foods that permeate our homes.
The
ability to discern and sense something otherwise indiscernible is analogized
with smell. When someone feels uncomfortable about something without being able
to pinpoint what it is, the common expression is, “I smell a rat”.
In the
haftorah of the final day of Pesach, the Navi Yeshaya describes Moshiach and
the messianic era: “He will smell with fear of G-d and he will not need to
judge by what his eyes see nor decide by what his ears hear.” One of the
qualities of Moshiach is that he will be imbued with a spiritual sense of smell
that will give him an incredible intuition to discern right from wrong and
moral from immoral (See Yeshaya 11:3, as explained by Radak).
People
believe that what they see and hear is reality. We are convinced that pictures
and videos depict the truth. But that’s often far from reality. Pictures didn’t
“tell” t full story, and even videos only depict what the videographer wants
others to see. It takes a sixth sense and an ability to “smell” what is really
happening.
The era
of Moshiach will expose the truth as it really is, not as Hollywood and social
media portray.
It’ll be
a world where we truly appreciate the miracles of life and the world around us.
It’ll be a society where we can literally smell divinity and feel G-d’s
Presence everywhere.
The wise
person, however, doesn’t wait for Moshiach. He has already begun developing his
sense of smell so that he can sense and recognize all those blessings, despite
the masks of this world.
Chodesh
Tov & Good Chodesh
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum