Beauty in the Tents of Shem
Noach blessed Yefes that his beauty would dwell in the tents of Shem, and Chazal learn that what is beautiful in the world can serve the Torah.
Noach blessed his sons, "May G-d enlarge Yefes, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem." The Gemara uses this blessing to explain why Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel allowed a sefer Torah to be written in Greek, and no other foreign language. Rebbi Chiya bar Abba explains that the word for "enlarge," yaft, is close to yofi, beauty: the beauty of Yefes will dwell in the tents of Shem. Greek, the language of Yavan, a son of Yefes, was the most beautiful of his children's languages, so it could enter Shem's tents, where the Torah is learned. The Midrash adds that the Shechinah rests only in the tents of Shem. Beauty does not compete with holiness. When it enters the tents of Shem, it serves them.
Source: Gemara, Megillah 9b (on Bereishis 9:27); Bereishis Rabbah 36:8
Think of one beautiful thing in your life: a voice for singing, a talent for design, a love of good writing, a well-set table. This week, bring it into the tents of Shem. Sing one zemer at the Shabbos table with real care, set the table for a Torah class you host, or write a Dvar Torah with the same polish you would give a work report. Let what is beautiful in you dress up the Torah instead of competing with it.