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The mishnah in Ethics of the Fathers states (Chap. V, 1)"The world was created with 10 utterances..." The use of speech as the medium with which Hashem creates (even though Hashem has no mouth, this is just a parable for our understanding) identifies the power of speech as a powerful tool of creation. You see, 10 utterances can create an entire universe where absolutely nothing had existed! Similarly, the power of speech, when used the wrong way, can be very destructive, as we may know from our own lives.

Women, especially, are builders of miniature worlds: homes, families, children, schools, and even offices. We must be sure to use our utterances to build worlds and not to destroy. "The wisdom of a woman builds her house" (Proverbs). When we create a world, we emulate Hashem, who created the world in order to give and bestow goodness upon His creations. He certainly didn't have any missing unfulfilled needs, rather Hashem is the ultimate giver and wishes a world to give to.

Similarly, the ultimate perfection of our personality would be to give unstintingly without any desire for something in return. Women have endless opportunities to perform kindness and give endlessly to their families, friends, communities. Serving a meal, tying a shoe, volunteer work, are nothing short of G-dliness; let us be aware and relish the opportunities we have instead of balking in selfishness. In Judaism, the heights of spirituality exist in an everyday setting, isolation is unnecessary and undesirable- we need a world! Mankind was created out of two elements: the dust of the ground, representing the materialistic corporeal side of man, and the breath of life from Hashem, representing the spiritual part of man. These two elements are always present in ourselves and both need to be nurtured and kept in balance. We do not forget our edible food, and likewise must not neglect our Torah and mitzvos, our spiritual food. Only when our material and physical sides are in synch are we happy individuals without inner conflict.

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