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Jax’s Bonus D’Var Torah – Parshas Ki Savo

The Torah tells us in vivid detail, of the blessings and curses that can and will befall us. Sometimes, we have great blessings and don’t even realize their magnitude, as the following story illustrates:

A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids,

2. Taj Mahal,

3. Grand Canyon,

4. Panama Canal,

5. Empire State Building,

6. St. Peter’s Basilica,

7. China’s Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch

2. to taste

3. to see

4. to hear

She hesitated a little, and then

5. to run

6. to laugh

7. and to love

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as “wonders” while we overlook all Hashem has done, regarding them as merely “ordinary.” May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous!