SECRETS of salt by Rav Touitou
Blog post in French.
This transcription has not been reviewed by R. Touitou chlita
Preface: The Secret of Salt Linked to Lot's Wife and Sodom
The secret of salt in the story of Lot's wife and Sodom is linked to the perversion of justice. Salt, a symbol of justice potentially softened by kindness, is rejected by the inhabitants of Sodom and by Lot's wife, who embody excessive rigor and a lack of empathy. Her act of going to the neighbors, whatever the precise motivation, leads to her downfall and transforms her into an eternal symbol of the consequences of justice without compassion.
Sodom and the Deformed Midat Hadin:
Sodom was a city where prosperity reigned, but where justice was applied cruelly and distortedly. The inhabitants, blinded by their comfort and pride, had lost all notion of compassion and charity. Their Midat Hadin was perverted, manifesting itself in excessive rigor and a complete lack of empathy for the weakest. They refused to help the poor, justifying their inaction by a misinterpretation of the divine will: since G'd is the one who decides wealth and poverty, any human intervention would be an interference in His plan.
Salt, Symbol of a Corrupted Justice:
In this context, salt represents the Midat Hadin, divine justice. On the other hand, it symbolizes the ability to soften this justice through kindness and compassion. However, in Sodom, salt was rare and precious, because it was perceived as a threat to their corrupt justice system. Salt, by softening judgments, implied a questioning of their worldview and an openness to others, which they categorically refused.
Lot's Wife and Her Refusal of Salt:
Lot's wife, imbued with the mentality of Sodom, shared this aversion to salt. When Lot asks for salt for the angels, her refusal is not simply an act of greed or malice, but a manifestation of her adherence to the deformed Midat Hadin of Sodom. For her, salt represents weakness, compassion, values that she rejects. To ask for salt is to admit the need to soften justice, which is inconceivable to her.
Why did she go to the neighbors?
The act of Lot's wife going to the neighbors to ask for salt, despite her aversion to it, may seem paradoxical. Several interpretations are possible:
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Provocation and Denunciation: By publicly announcing that Lot is receiving strangers, she seeks to provoke her neighbors and incite them to violence. She thus betrays her husband's hospitality and precipitates the confrontation with the inhabitants of Sodom.
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Tragic Irony: Her act can be seen as a tragic irony. By seeking to harm Lot and his guests, she seals her own fate. Salt, which she rejects so much, becomes the instrument of her punishment.
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A Last Act of Social Conformity: Despite her hostility towards salt, she may feel obliged to conform to the rules of hospitality, even hypocritically. By going to the neighbors, she seeks to maintain appearances and avoid being ostracized.
The Punishment: A Statue of Salt
The transformation of Lot's wife into a statue of salt is highly symbolic. Salt, which she refused to give out of lack of compassion, freezes her in her rigid and merciless attitude. She becomes an eternal symbol of the perverted Midat Hadin, a warning against the dangers of justice without mercy.
I. The Secrets of Salt: A Powerful Duality
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Duality of Dine and Hesed: The bitterness of salt represents the Din (judgment), the rigor of divine law. However, this rigor is not punitive, but corrective. Salt, like Din, has the power to reveal the hidden sweetness (Hesed) within us and in the world. The trial, symbolized by the bitterness of salt, is a process of spiritual refinement. As salt enhances the flavor of food, the difficulties of life reveal divine goodness and allow us to fully appreciate sweetness. This duality is illustrated by the dipping of bread (Hesed) in salt (Din), an act that symbolizes the union and transformation of judgment into kindness. Lot's wife, by refusing salt, rejected this possibility of transformation and became frozen in the rigor of Din.
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Protective Power: Salt acts as a spiritual shield against negative forces and evil decrees. Wearing it on oneself, or using it in rituals like Sfirat HaOmer, creates a protective barrier. This protection stems from its high spiritual source, Abba de Gvura Dikdusha, which gives it the power to influence the spiritual worlds and mitigate divine decrees, whether they come from the higher or lower worlds.
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Purification and Repair: Salt is associated with purification, both physical and spiritual. In sacrifices, it purified the offering. Salty tears, shed during a trial accepted with love, purify the soul and erase sins. The act of the woman bringing salt to the table is a tikkun (repair) for the fault of Lot's wife, restoring balance and the ability to soften dine. The salty sweat of honest work is also a form of purification, symbolizing the value of work and integrity.
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Connection to the Higher Worlds: The high spiritual origin of salt allows it to act as a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual world. Our actions with salt, such as dipping bread or kavana during HaMotzi, have repercussions in the spiritual worlds. Salt, a physical substance, becomes a channel for accessing spiritual energies and influencing the course of events.
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Memory and Retention: Salt, by its ability to absorb and retain, is linked to memory. The segula of dipping one's finger in salt after study aims to strengthen memory and retain the teachings of the Torah.
II. Halachot of Salt: Practices and Applications
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Constant Presence: Having salt in the house, and especially on the table, is a constant reminder of divine protection and the need to balance justice and mercy.
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Bread and Salt of Shabbat: Leaving bread and salt on the table during Shabbat symbolizes abundance, peace and the holiness of this day. It is a visual reminder of the double portion of manna received by the Israelites in the desert.
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Eating Bread with Salt: This act, accompanied by the blessing HaMotzi, is a source of healing, protection and spiritual connection. It unites the physical and the spiritual, nourishing the body and the soul.
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Mayim Aharonim: The waters after the meal, especially after consuming bread and salt, purify from potential negative influences, including melakh Sedomit (salt of Sodom).
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The Woman and Salt: It is preferable for the woman to bring the salt to the table, in reparation for the fault of Lot's wife, highlighting her role in the harmony of the home and the transmission of traditions.
III. Kavanot of Salt: Intentions and Spiritual Connections
- During HaMotzi: When dipping bread in salt, thinking about "Hachem Melekh, Hachem Malakh, Hachem Yimlokh" (G'd reigns, G'd has reigned, G'd will reign) connects the past, present and future, and solicits divine strength and support to overcome trials. This kavana is recited internally, without interrupting the blessing.
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