Rediscovering Value by Returning to the Source

Ever notice that the further something gets from its origin, the less we value it?

I see this all the time, in the simplest things—from how we spend money to how we experience the world around us. It’s like the value fades the more distant we are from what it really is at its core.

Let me explain what I mean.

Money: Cash vs. Credit Cards (and Beyond)

Think about money for a second. When you earn cash and physically have it in your hand, you feel its value. You worked hard for it, and now you’re holding the proof.

But when that paycheck gets automatically deposited into your account and then you swipe a credit card to pay for something, it feels different, right?

You don’t think twice. There’s a disconnect.

And gift cards? Don’t even get me started. It’s like the money is so far removed from its original form that it barely feels like money anymore.

Casinos know exactly what they’re doing to get you to spend more. They have you trade your cash for chips, which makes it easier to lose track of the money’s real value.

If you were spending actual cash, you’d probably be more careful. But with these little plastic chips? It feels like Monopoly money. The further we are from holding real cash, the less we think about what we’re actually spending.

Food: From Trees to Supermarkets

The same thing goes for food. Have you ever picked fruit straight from a tree?

A few weeks ago, my family took a trip to an orange orchard. The place had all sorts of fun activities—water rides, mini golf, ropes courses—but I was on the lookout for oranges.

Thing is, the oranges weren’t in season, so most of them were green and hidden in the branches. You really had to search for them. But I spotted a few ripe ones high up on a tree.

I literally climbed a fence to get them. They didn’t look like the prettiest oranges, but when I peeled one open and took a bite, it was the best orange I’ve ever had in my life.

No joke. It was sweet, juicy, and just…perfect.

There was something about picking it straight from the tree, knowing that Hashem made this fruit, that made the whole experience so much more meaningful.

Saying a bracha after eating that orange felt different—like I wasn’t just saying “Thanks for the fruit,” but more like, “THANK YOU, HASHEM!”

Now compare that to grabbing an orange at the grocery store. It’s next to all the other items from Oreos to canned soup, maybe wrapped in plastic, sitting under fluorescent lights.

You don’t think about how that orange grew on a tree, how it camouflaged green until it was ready to ripen. You don’t think about the perfectly engineered design that allows you to peel it, eat it in segments, and plant the seeds for a whole new tree.

In the store, it’s just another item on your grocery list. That connection is lost, and with it, the appreciation.

Nature: Hashem’s Masterpiece

This idea of being removed from the essence plays out on an even bigger scale when we look at nature.

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to take them to the beach. There’s something magical about being by the ocean, watching the waves come in, digging in the sand, and just soaking it all in.

I love digging massive holes in the sand with the kids—seeing how deep we can go until we hit water. We bury the kids up to their necks, and they try to break free.

Every now and then, we dash into the ocean to cool off, wash away the sand, and enjoy the waves.

Being by the ocean reminds me of Hashem’s greatness. It’s just water, but it goes on as far as the eye can see. It’s Hashem-made, pure, and untouched by human hands. There’s a deep sense of calm that comes with seeing something so vast, so natural.

It pulls me back to the core of creation. We live in houses made by people, drive on roads paved by people, and spend most of our time in man-made environments.

That’s why being out in nature—whether it’s at the beach or in the mountains—brings us a sense of peace. It connects us to Hashem in a way that our man-made cities just can’t.

Bringing It Back to Torah

This principle of staying close to the essence isn’t just about nature or money. It’s true when it comes to wisdom and knowledge as well.

Nowadays, there are all these “life coaches” and “gurus” teaching concepts like gratitude, positivity, and mindfulness to name a few.

And sure, they offer great advice. But guess what?

The Torah said it first.

For example, gurus today talk about how practicing gratitude will change your life. But we’ve known and practiced this for thousands of years. We are the Yehudim, named after Yehuda who was given the name as a way of saying Thank You Hashem!

Yehuda’s mother, Leah was the first person in history to authentically thank Hashem. Our entire day is filled with our gratitude.

We start each day with Modeh Ani, thanking Hashem for returning our souls, and say 100 brachot a day—100 moments to stop and express gratitude.

When you learn about gratitude from some guru, it’s a nice concept, but it’s missing the core connection—to Hashem. There’s a certain superficiality. You’re learning about gratitude, but you’re removed from the origin.

The Torah, on the other hand, gives you the same advice but keeps Hashem right in the center. And when Hashem is at the center, the entire experience is elevated. The advice has more value, more meaning. It’s aligned with our true purpose.

From Noach to Sukkot: Coming Back to Our Roots

Even in Parshat Noach, we see the consequences of disconnecting from what matters most.

The generation that built the Tower of Babel wanted to make a name for themselves, to distance themselves from Hashem.

Until then, everything was Hashem-made—people lived in caves or huts made from natural materials.

But once they discovered how to make bricks, they were able to create their own structures. And that’s where the downfall began—they were trying to live independently of Hashem’s world.

Fast forward to today. One of the most powerful mitzvot we have that brings us back to our spiritual roots is Sukkot. For one week, we leave our man-made homes and live in a Sukkah built from Hashem-made materials. It’s a physical reminder that everything we have comes from Him.

The mitzvah of Bikkurim in this week’s parsha (bringing the first fruits to the Beit Hamikdash) worked the same way. When we brought our first fruits to Hashem, we were showing that we recognized His role in our sustenance.

We weren’t just eating food; we were enjoying a gift directly from its source.

The Takeaway: Get Closer to What Truly Matters

So what’s the point of all this?

Whether it’s how we spend money, eat food, or live our lives, the closer we are to the essence of things, the more value and meaning we experience.

When we’re out in nature, surrounded by Hashem’s creation, our brachot are more heartfelt. When we learn Torah directly, instead of from other sources, we connect more deeply to Hashem.

And the truth is, in today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in the man-made, the distractions, the artificial. But if we want to live a more meaningful life, we need to make the effort to get back to the core.

Spend time in nature, appreciate the food we eat, learn Torah, and remember that Hashem is at the center of it all.

Let’s try to bring that awareness into our everyday lives. The closer we get to the essence, the more we’ll appreciate everything around us—and ultimately, the closer we’ll get to Hashem.

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