Is Mt. Everest Closest to G-d?

Three hermits move into a cave together and for the first seven years they don’t speak to each other. Then one morning a horse runs by the mouth of the cave.

Seven years later, the first hermit says, “That was a pretty white horse that ran by.”

Seven more years go by and the second hermit says, “That horse wasn’t white; he was black.”

Yet another seven years go by and the third hermit starts packing his bags. The other two look at him and he says, “If all you two are going to do is argue, then I’m leaving.”

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Under the influence of most of Earth’s major religions, many have been led to believe that spirituality translates as “shunning the physical and living a nun-like existence.” The further one distances himself from worldliness, the closer he becomes to the divine, they say.

A man sitting atop a mountain clothed in rags, eating only the bare minimum and meditating for hours on end gives the impression of being “spiritual”.

A guru who hasn’t opened his mouth in a decade is considered a hero almost in all religious circles. All, that is, besides for Judaism, where the reverse is the truth.

To bring an example: On Shabbat, our day of rest, we are commanded to eat the best of foods. We celebrate Passover with Matza, horseradish and eggs.

When one reaches the milestone of Bar Mitzvah age, he celebrates with a feast; a Chanukah party doesn’t begin without doughnuts and Latkes.

You would think our religion was thought up by some chef. What about spirituality and holiness? What about rags, closed eyes and starved bodies? Wouldn’t Passover have more meaning if we were to refrain from speech for eight days? And wouldn’t Shabbat feel more divine if our “resting” involved cleansing our mundane bodies through fasting?

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Judaism doesn’t define spirituality as abandonment of the world. If G-d’s will was for us to live like angels, this physical world would be superfluous. Can we ever presume to attain the levels of Michael and Gabriel, even after decades of isolation?

We live in this world to elevate the mundane, i.e. to eat food and make a blessing, to use the hive of a cow for Mezuzahs and to bring joy, love, happiness and meaning to our lives and the lives of others.

Money is good when used for the right purposes. Eyes are useful for looking at the correct things. Fame is an asset if it leads to positive things.

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So is Mt. Everest closest to G-d? Well if you’re eating your Shabbat meal at 27,352 feet, then hey – I guess you’re the closest you could get to G-d…