This week’s parsha contains some of the greatest miracles in the Torah. The pinnacle of this is the parting of the red sea. But interestingly enough after each of these miracles the torah tells us that the Jewish people quickly begin to complain and become difficult. What is our Torah trying to tell us by showing our people quickly becoming difficult even in the face of HaShem’s most amazing show of power and omnipotence? I have always heard a simple but impactful lesson from this message:
If you are looking for HaShem do not go looking for miracles for proof of the impossible but instead look to the everyday miracles of the possible.
This week’s portion is our chance as a people to learn where we need to turn to find HaShem. It is not in the amazing miracles we read of in the bible. These show us the unlimited power of our deity and our protector. But it also tells us that cannot look to these miracles for our relationship with HaShem. We see this week it does not work. This week the torah instructs us to look not for that which is amazing that is beyond our control and comprehension but instead we should look at our everyday lives. To be able to live the lives we do as sentient beings with free will is a miracle. To be able to help others is a miracle. To be able to make the choice to act and be Jewish is a miracle. To be able to spend time with our family is a miracle. To be able to take control of our lives and make a difference to those we love and care about is a miracle. And when we embrace these miracles as our proof of HaShem it becomes impossible to forget and wake up one morning and complain like the Israelites did this week. That which is rare and impossible is easy to dismiss and misunderstand. That which we live every day is easy ammunition for inspiration. So on this portion let us remind ourselves of the simple but powerful reminder of this week’s parsha that nothing contains the power, impact or holiness of HaShem like the everyday miracles of the possible.
Shabbat Shalom
Parshas Beshalach Summary from Torah.org
The Bnai Yisroel (Children of Israel - Jews) had left Mitzrayim (Egypt). The closest route to Eretz Yisroel (The Land of Israel) was along the Mediterranean coast up into Israel. However; this territory was occupied by the Philistines. The Bnai Yisroel were not ready for a battle, so Hashem (G-d) lead them toward the Sea of Reeds. Pharaoh was informed that The Bnai Yisroel appeared to be lost, and he strengthened his resolve and that of his people and pursued the Jews into the Desert.
The Egyptians caught up to the Jews as they were camped by the edge of the sea. (Imagine the thundering sound, and cloud of dust that 600 charging chariots must have made and you can begin to understand the pure terror that must have struck the hearts of the people.) Moshe reassured them that they only had to trust Hashem and stand silently as His awesome majesty wiped out the might of Mitzrayim.
Moshe was told to stretch out his staff over the sea. Hashem separated the Jews from the Egyptians with a cloud cover and caused an Easterly wind to blow the entire night. As the waters parted, the Bnai Yisroel entered between the towering walls of water and crossed to the other side. The Egyptians chased after them into the parted waters of the sea.
Moshe stretched his arm back over the sea and the waters returned to their natural state, drowning the might and glory of Egypt's best. The Bnai Yisroel witnessed G-d's awesome display of justice and they believed in the reality of Hashem and in the appointment of Moshe as His most trusted servant. Moshe, and then Miriam, lead the Bnai Yisroel in a spontaneous song of exaltation and thanksgiving. The incident with the bitter waters at Marah is detailed.
The Bnai Yisroel struggled with the realities of their experience, attempting to balance faith with practical concerns for survival. The concerns for food and water were overwhelming and Moshe promised them quail and Maana. These "miracles" were introduced to the Jews as evidence of Hashem's love, caring, honor and glory.
The Bnai Yisroel were given strict instructions regarding the gathering and eating of the Maana. They were introduced to Shabbos, and an urn of Manna was saved for posterity.
The nation traveled to Rephidim, and confronted Moshe over the issue of water. Moshe saw this as an unnecessary challenge to Hashem's caring and love. Hashem instructed Moshe to hit the rock and bring forth water. The final episode in the Parsha was Amalek's unprovoked attack on the newly independent nation. Yehoshua lead the attack against Amalek while Moshe, Aharon, and Chur (Miriam's son) stood atop the battle field with Moshe's arms stretched heavenward. Hashem commanded us to eradicate and never forget Amalek's evil.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Weekly Shabbat parsha thoughts - Bo - 1.22.2010
This week’s portion (Bo – I have included a summary of the parsha below) sets up the beginning of what is one of the great creative tensions in the Torah and really for the Jewish people across the ages. This is the portion where the Jews get set free from Egypt.
It begins the struggle between being the Jews of Egypt and the Jews of the Exodus. And this is the beginning of the struggle between free expression in the world and the need to understand that we are also apart. It is the challenge of the need for Identity as a people and Engagement of the outside world. Both are requirement of being a chosen people and we need to remember that every day. Our job is not to be cloistered nor totally assimilated. Balancing on this razor’s edge is the essence of the Jewish challenge and both are needed to fulfill our obligations to ourselves and HaShem. When we swing to far to one side or another you will have problems.
And while this balancing act is a huge (and by design unending) challenge it also sets up a permanent tension for the Jewish people. And I believe that this tension and heightened challenge is a fount of greatness for the Jewish people. Having the requirement to balance these two worlds puts an active Jew in a permanent state of creative tension. Having an ideal that is based on a difficult balancing act and a world that makes it even harder to achieve that ideal allows us to access a stronger motivation for making that difference in the world we wish to see. The challenge is not simply something we should “manage” but should be viewed as a source of potential greatness or stated more accurately a motivation for creating greatness.
So we often can be frustrated by a need to balance our Jewish identity as a separate people and our desire, need and requirement to be a part of the larger world. We all have felt frustrated with this tension and balancing act but we also need to remember that this is not a problem to be “solved” but more accurately a source of potential greatness and an engine for us to continually achieve more.
It is a tension that begins with the Exodus this week – but the challenge is still with us today - but so is the engine for greatness.
Shabbat Shalom
Parshas Bo Summary from Torah.org
Moshe and Aharon forewarned Pharaoh about the Locust. His advisors begged Pharaoh to consider Moshe's request, and Pharaoh attempted to negotiate with Moshe and Aharon that the children should stay behind. When his offer was refused, all negotiations broke down and Pharaoh chased Moshe and Aharon away. The Locust swallowed up Mitzrayim (Egypt), but Pharaoh still refused to send away the Jews.
Darkness enveloped Egypt for three days. Pharaoh told Moshe that he could take out his people, but he had to leave the cattle behind. Moshe refused and Pharaoh forewarned Moshe that he could not come to him again. In truth, the next time they saw each other would be after the Death of the First Born, when Pharaoh went to Moshe.
Moshe forewarned the Egyptians about the Death of the First Born. In 12:2 Hashem (G-d) commanded Moshe and Aharon with the very first Mitzvah to be given to the Nation. The very first Korban Pesach was described along with the Mitzvos of Matzoh, Chametz, and Pesach.
The Bnai Yisroel were commanded to mark the inside of their doors with the blood of the Korban Pesach.
The plague of the Death of the First Born left Mitzrayim in mourning. Pharaoh and the Egyptians hurried the Jews out of Mitzrayim. Approximately 600,000 men besides women, children, and the elderly (3,000,000 total) as well as about 1,000,000 non-Jews (the Eruv Rav) left Mitzrayim during the Exodus. It was the year 2448, and the Pasuk says that the Jews had been in Mitzrayim for 430 years. (exactly 430 years from the Bris Bain Habisarim - The Covenant Between the Halves) The laws of the Korban Pesach were reviewed.
The Parsha concludes with a review of the laws of Pesach as well as introducing the Mitzvos of Pehter Chamor - the commandment to exchange all first born, male donkeys for a sheep; Pidyon Haben - redeeming the first born male child; and the Mitzvah of Tefillin.
It begins the struggle between being the Jews of Egypt and the Jews of the Exodus. And this is the beginning of the struggle between free expression in the world and the need to understand that we are also apart. It is the challenge of the need for Identity as a people and Engagement of the outside world. Both are requirement of being a chosen people and we need to remember that every day. Our job is not to be cloistered nor totally assimilated. Balancing on this razor’s edge is the essence of the Jewish challenge and both are needed to fulfill our obligations to ourselves and HaShem. When we swing to far to one side or another you will have problems.
And while this balancing act is a huge (and by design unending) challenge it also sets up a permanent tension for the Jewish people. And I believe that this tension and heightened challenge is a fount of greatness for the Jewish people. Having the requirement to balance these two worlds puts an active Jew in a permanent state of creative tension. Having an ideal that is based on a difficult balancing act and a world that makes it even harder to achieve that ideal allows us to access a stronger motivation for making that difference in the world we wish to see. The challenge is not simply something we should “manage” but should be viewed as a source of potential greatness or stated more accurately a motivation for creating greatness.
So we often can be frustrated by a need to balance our Jewish identity as a separate people and our desire, need and requirement to be a part of the larger world. We all have felt frustrated with this tension and balancing act but we also need to remember that this is not a problem to be “solved” but more accurately a source of potential greatness and an engine for us to continually achieve more.
It is a tension that begins with the Exodus this week – but the challenge is still with us today - but so is the engine for greatness.
Shabbat Shalom
Parshas Bo Summary from Torah.org
Moshe and Aharon forewarned Pharaoh about the Locust. His advisors begged Pharaoh to consider Moshe's request, and Pharaoh attempted to negotiate with Moshe and Aharon that the children should stay behind. When his offer was refused, all negotiations broke down and Pharaoh chased Moshe and Aharon away. The Locust swallowed up Mitzrayim (Egypt), but Pharaoh still refused to send away the Jews.
Darkness enveloped Egypt for three days. Pharaoh told Moshe that he could take out his people, but he had to leave the cattle behind. Moshe refused and Pharaoh forewarned Moshe that he could not come to him again. In truth, the next time they saw each other would be after the Death of the First Born, when Pharaoh went to Moshe.
Moshe forewarned the Egyptians about the Death of the First Born. In 12:2 Hashem (G-d) commanded Moshe and Aharon with the very first Mitzvah to be given to the Nation. The very first Korban Pesach was described along with the Mitzvos of Matzoh, Chametz, and Pesach.
The Bnai Yisroel were commanded to mark the inside of their doors with the blood of the Korban Pesach.
The plague of the Death of the First Born left Mitzrayim in mourning. Pharaoh and the Egyptians hurried the Jews out of Mitzrayim. Approximately 600,000 men besides women, children, and the elderly (3,000,000 total) as well as about 1,000,000 non-Jews (the Eruv Rav) left Mitzrayim during the Exodus. It was the year 2448, and the Pasuk says that the Jews had been in Mitzrayim for 430 years. (exactly 430 years from the Bris Bain Habisarim - The Covenant Between the Halves) The laws of the Korban Pesach were reviewed.
The Parsha concludes with a review of the laws of Pesach as well as introducing the Mitzvos of Pehter Chamor - the commandment to exchange all first born, male donkeys for a sheep; Pidyon Haben - redeeming the first born male child; and the Mitzvah of Tefillin.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts – Va Era – 1.15.2010
The ten plagues. Well, seven of them to be more exact is what happens in this week’s portion. In reading over the portion this week the item that comes back to my mind is a small bit of symbolism that comes with the plagues. With the plagues this week Moses makes a motion or physical act to get them started. Throwing dust in the air, touching the water with his rod etc… there is an action Moses takes to start the plague.
Why the theater? Well there is certainly some showmanship towards the Egyptians to be sure.
By linking the show of power to a physical act the Torah is putting on a show… but nor for the Egyptians… it is for us. We, the Jewish people and the readers, are having a show put on for us to teach us the power of action. Only when we are willing to do can we harness that special power within us to do something great.
Every day we take action. How often do we realize that we (like Moses and everyone) are acting in the image of HaShem? I venture to guess not very often.
In the story of the plagues we get reminded that our actions are a part of HaShem’s impact to the world. And the impact of our actions every day is a part of that as well. The power shown this week is truly beyond human comprehension. However the ability and requirement to act is something we can understand very well. HaShem’s power is awe inspiring but we should not forget that we have our part that we must play to bring it out in the world and that is as true today as ever.
Shabbat Shalom
Why the theater? Well there is certainly some showmanship towards the Egyptians to be sure.
By linking the show of power to a physical act the Torah is putting on a show… but nor for the Egyptians… it is for us. We, the Jewish people and the readers, are having a show put on for us to teach us the power of action. Only when we are willing to do can we harness that special power within us to do something great.
Every day we take action. How often do we realize that we (like Moses and everyone) are acting in the image of HaShem? I venture to guess not very often.
In the story of the plagues we get reminded that our actions are a part of HaShem’s impact to the world. And the impact of our actions every day is a part of that as well. The power shown this week is truly beyond human comprehension. However the ability and requirement to act is something we can understand very well. HaShem’s power is awe inspiring but we should not forget that we have our part that we must play to bring it out in the world and that is as true today as ever.
Shabbat Shalom
Friday, January 8, 2010
Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts – Shemoat – 1.8.2010
This week we meet Moses and the famous story of him being saved from drowning in the Nile. Whenever I think about this parsha I think of the lessons of the turtle on the fence post.
(Which goes something like “if you ever see a turtle on a fence post you know one thing, he had some help getting up there.”)
So we meet Moses, our greatest leader, and he is a turtle this week. He is yet to recognize his true destiny but much of it is being set up for him. And amazingly one of his main sponsor’s is Pharaoh’s daughter! What an amazing lesson about the necessity of needing help at all phases in our life.
We often hear people talk about “wanting to do it on our own” or “not wanting any help” and I think this idea is one of the great myth’s of all time. We are all turtles on a fence post. There is no such thing as “doing it alone” – we MUST have the help of others to succeed it is simply impossible to succeed without that help. And this week our torah potion reminds us that we should not be embarrassed by needing this help. We should embrace that help, be grateful for it and look for when we can be that person for others.
Extending our hand to help out AND accepting that hand (gracefully and appreciatively) when it is extended is part of our sacred duty and destiny as Jews. There is a great deal that the Torah talks about Moses after he received the hand up from Pharaoh’s daughter. So once we have reached the fence post we should not rest. Our lot is judged on what we do once we get there. But we should remember that no one (not even Moses) gets there without help. And we are reminded of this dynamic this week in seeing who helped Moses when he was a turtle and needed help.
This week and weekend we should take a moment on those who have helped us over the years. If you have a chance send someone a thank you for that help – I promise you they will not expect it and will be moved by it.
As I said we are all turtles on a fence post and we should take this week’s portion as a reminder to be grateful to those who have helped and remember it is in our acceptance of this help and then where we go after we have received that is our measure not how we got there.
Shabbat Shalom
(Which goes something like “if you ever see a turtle on a fence post you know one thing, he had some help getting up there.”)
So we meet Moses, our greatest leader, and he is a turtle this week. He is yet to recognize his true destiny but much of it is being set up for him. And amazingly one of his main sponsor’s is Pharaoh’s daughter! What an amazing lesson about the necessity of needing help at all phases in our life.
We often hear people talk about “wanting to do it on our own” or “not wanting any help” and I think this idea is one of the great myth’s of all time. We are all turtles on a fence post. There is no such thing as “doing it alone” – we MUST have the help of others to succeed it is simply impossible to succeed without that help. And this week our torah potion reminds us that we should not be embarrassed by needing this help. We should embrace that help, be grateful for it and look for when we can be that person for others.
Extending our hand to help out AND accepting that hand (gracefully and appreciatively) when it is extended is part of our sacred duty and destiny as Jews. There is a great deal that the Torah talks about Moses after he received the hand up from Pharaoh’s daughter. So once we have reached the fence post we should not rest. Our lot is judged on what we do once we get there. But we should remember that no one (not even Moses) gets there without help. And we are reminded of this dynamic this week in seeing who helped Moses when he was a turtle and needed help.
This week and weekend we should take a moment on those who have helped us over the years. If you have a chance send someone a thank you for that help – I promise you they will not expect it and will be moved by it.
As I said we are all turtles on a fence post and we should take this week’s portion as a reminder to be grateful to those who have helped and remember it is in our acceptance of this help and then where we go after we have received that is our measure not how we got there.
Shabbat Shalom
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
.jpg)