Shemot 5774

Shemot 5774

In this week’s parasha, Shemot, we read the dramatic scene of Moses, when he leaves the palace to explore what is happening in Egypt. The narrator (Exodus 2:11-12) tells us that Moses observes and Egyptian beating an ivri, a Hebrew: “And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian...” Moses looks around, and seeing no one, he kills the Egyptian. There are two main ways of understanding this passage.

The first is that Moses looked around to see if there would be any witnesses to what he was about to do. He was checking to ensure that no one could trace this back to him.

But another way of reading this narrative is that which is mentioned in the rabbinic midrash (Vayikra Rabba 32:4): that no one was ready to champion the cause of the Holy One, the just ways of God.

Some of our rabbis, picking up on the fact that the verse says that Moses did not see an ish, another person stepping up, immediately ascribe to Moses the devout observance of the rabbinic maxim: Where there is no person, strive to be one (Pirkay Avot 2:5).

In this first trial, and the two that follow, Moses proves that he will fight for justice for those whose lives are threatened. Whether for his brothers and sisters, for friends, or for neighbors, Moses risks his life to protect the weak. Moses, when seeing that no one else is stepping up, takes actions into his own hands.

This shabbat, we commemorate the yahrzeit of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the great rabbis and social activists of the 20th century. Rabbi Heschel’s yahrzeit, the 18th of Tevet, typically falls during the week of this week’s parasha. There could not be a more appropriate parasha to commemorate Rabbi Heschel’s memory than the one when we remember the origins of Moses fighting on behalf of those who are most vulnerable. After all, Rabbi Heschel marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, walking arm in arm to bring about civil rights in our nation.

It is this legacy that we commemorate this week as we remember Rabbi Heschel’s yahrzeit, and as we prepare to commemorate the legacy of Dr. King. On Monday, January 20th, from 2:00-4:30 p.m., we at Anshe Emet will be hosting an interfaith Day of Study and Action in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme of the day is entitled: “CIVIL RIGHTS: People of Multiple Faiths Continuing in MLK’s Struggle.” We are very excited to host over a hundred people (middle school and older) of multiple faiths residing in the Lakeview area here in our synagogue, as we come together for a day of learning and service in honor of Dr. King. We will begin by reflecting on the legacy of MLK from faith leaders from various traditions, followed by learning about problems of civil rights in our communities. Then we will begin acting on solving these problems through tangible action.

As we commemorate Rabbi Heschel’s memory, and as we think about Moses’ legacy as a man who fought for injustice, I hope that you will join us in that conversation one month from now, as we follow in the footsteps of Dr. King and his dream for a more just society here in America.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Russo

Sh'lach 5773

In this week’s parsha, Sh'lach Lecha, we read the story of the 12 spies. After the devastating report of 10 of the spies, Calev ben Yefuneh stands up in front of the entire people (Numbers 13:30):

“And Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”

Calev creates a dream, a goal for the Israelite nation; one that the other spies believe is simply unattainable. The other spies have no hope, no desire to enter the Land that they had thought about for so long; they have no dream for the future of their people.

We see another example of problematic visioning later in the parshah. After the people see that those who spoke badly about attempting to enter the Land of  Canaan die, some of them seek to remedy the mistake. They wake up early in the morning, and tell Moshe that they want to enter the Land, that they want to fight the current inhabitants of the Land. But Moshe says to them, No, now is not the time. They do not listen to him, and they go and fight, and they get killed. These people have a concrete action in mind; but they do not have a clear vision for the future of the Israelites.

The great Jewish thinker Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel writes in a similar vein about prayer:

“Prayer is no substitute for action. It is, rather, like a beam thrown from a flashlight before us into the darkness. It is in this light that we who grope, stumble, and climb discover where we stand, what surrounds us, and the course which we should choose.” (Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, pg. 342)

Heschel advises us, as the parsha does, to combine dreams and actions, to determine a vision, and then follow it through with action. What are your dreams? For this summer? For the next school/fiscal year? What do you want to accomplish?

I wish all of us a summer full of big dreams, hopes, and goals, and the ability to follow it up with appropriate action.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi David Russo