January 18, 2008

Parashat Beshalach 5768

Our ancestors in this week's Torah Portion, Parashat Beshalach find themselves in the desert (This is just six weeks after the exodus from Egypt). The desert, as you know, is a wild wilderness, filled with harsh conditions and fresh setbacks for the newly freed slaves. Not surprisingly, there were two things first and foremost on the Israelites' minds: water and food. The Israelites cried out to Moses and Aaron, saying "If only we had died by the hand of Adonai in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots, when we ate our fill of bread! For you have brought us into this wilderness to starve this whole congregation to death" (Exodus 16:3). Without bodily nourishment, the souls of the Israelites begin to shrivel. Their physical hunger brought about spiritual doubt.

And so, God responds to the Israelites' request by "raining down bread from the sky." God explained that one portion of this special bread, called manna, would fall from heaven every day, except on Shabbat. Rather, the Israelites learned, a double portion of manna would fall on Friday and they would collect double, so as not have to work on Shabbat. Except for the special double portion on Fridays, the manna would only last one day. If the Israelites tried to save some for the next day, it would spoil. Why?

Manna was not just food, but nourishment from heaven. It was intended not only to feed the people physically, but also to teach them spiritually.

Manna teaches us to remember and to observe and to honor Shabbat with rest. Manna teaches us to take only our share and to delight in what we have. Manna teaches us that aspects of life are meant to be enjoyed in the present and not imagined for the future.

And I wonder: What is the manna in our lives today? What reminds us and guides and fills us and settles us?

May we blessed this Shabbat with the ability to recognize the Divine gifts that rain upon us, that fill us spiritually, and that bring us nourishment.


January 11, 2008

Parashat Bo 5768

We jump into this week's Torah Portion, Parashat Bo, in the middle of the Exodus story. Moses and Aaron are trying to convince Pharaoh to free their people, Pharaoh is refusing to let the Israelites leave Egypt, and God is visiting plagues on the Egyptians. It is the Passover story we all know so well!

But, Rabbi ben Bag Bag teaches in the Mishna, "Turn it over and over because everything is in it" (Pirkei Avot 5:22). Yes, our Torah is meant to be flipped and twisted and challenged, for it is overflowing with learning. It is simply up to us to engage it.

This past week, while attending the annual conference of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis, I had the privilege of learning with Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller. Rabbi Seidler-Feller flipped this week's parashah for me. Out of it, I have found a new blessing.

Rabbi Seidler-Feller taught that there was only one person in Egypt who was sure he knew who God was. Moses wasn't sure. Two weeks ago, even Moses had to stop and ask God to reveal the Divine name (Moses asks God: "When I come to the Israelites and say to them 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is God's name?' what shall I say to them?" Exodus 3:13). The Israelites weren't sure. Throughout their desert wandering, the Israelites doubted God, even after God performed miracles meant to prove Divine might and existence. Pharaoh was the only person who knew who God was...Pharaoh was sure that he himself was "God." Pharaoh reasoned: If Pharaoh was "God," why should he listen to Adonai?

We learn a fundamental lesson here. Our tradition teaches us that absolute certainty can be misguided. Our ancestors challenged God, questioned God, and wrestled with belief in God's power.

I take comfort in the struggles of our ancestors. While the process of questioning and rethinking (the stuff of "turning") can certainly be more difficult than just knowing, it often leads us closer to truth. My blessing for this Shabbat is that we continue our turning, delight in our wrestling, and open ourselves to all that we still have yet to discover.

For further reflection:
1. What questioning and wrestling currently engages you?