Friday, July 15, 2005
Sparks of Israel
Moshe and the Rock
I recall the weeks before Pesach when I was visiting the old country. A famous learned rabbi was speaking and someone asked how they are supposed to fulfill the requirement of feeling as if we were slaves in Egypt? I suggested that to understand what happened at that time, we could think about our brothers at this time, who are having a Pesach Seder in Gush Katif.
The same overwhelming odds against this small group, and the same expectation of a miracle might inspire our Seder tables so that we can better appreciate the original Exodus and make it happen again in our own time. The Rabbi didn’t agree, and was resigned to the fact that this Jewish expulsion was inevitable and was the product of anti-religious propaganda from an anti-religious state.
What made me recall this story at this time? Parsha Chukat- where Moshe gets angry and hits the rock and is condemned to not enter the Land of Israel. Even though water eventually came gushing out of this rock, the water of Torah that poured forth was Torah of the exile, that had lost its meaning. Moshe had lost touch with the people, and instead of being angry at them, he had an opportunity to bring out the best in them and raise them to a new level.
The same rock that sustained Hagar, the mother of the Ishmaelites, condemned Moshe who gave us the Torah. Even the Ishmaelites who took possession of a Land that was not given to them, understood its miraculous powers better than those who were never troubled by their disinheritance from it.
Those who love the Land, understand that the Land speaks, and water pours forth even from a rock. The Land will not tolerate its children being torn from them, and its children will not tolerate being separated from her. One doesn’t need to be a rabbinical student to understand this he only needs a new heart formed in the Land of Israel.
Despite leaders that accept the unacceptable, and continue to lash out at their arch-enemies, instead of speaking to the hearts of the people, the hearts of the people will speak to them and alone, they will bring forth miracles from above. A new generation has already entered the Land and despite all the Pharaohs of Egypt and our own Meraglim and Korach’s and rock hitting rabbis, the revolution has begun and from here you can smell the salt of the sea beginning to part.
Moshe and the Rock
I recall the weeks before Pesach when I was visiting the old country. A famous learned rabbi was speaking and someone asked how they are supposed to fulfill the requirement of feeling as if we were slaves in Egypt? I suggested that to understand what happened at that time, we could think about our brothers at this time, who are having a Pesach Seder in Gush Katif.
The same overwhelming odds against this small group, and the same expectation of a miracle might inspire our Seder tables so that we can better appreciate the original Exodus and make it happen again in our own time. The Rabbi didn’t agree, and was resigned to the fact that this Jewish expulsion was inevitable and was the product of anti-religious propaganda from an anti-religious state.
What made me recall this story at this time? Parsha Chukat- where Moshe gets angry and hits the rock and is condemned to not enter the Land of Israel. Even though water eventually came gushing out of this rock, the water of Torah that poured forth was Torah of the exile, that had lost its meaning. Moshe had lost touch with the people, and instead of being angry at them, he had an opportunity to bring out the best in them and raise them to a new level.
The same rock that sustained Hagar, the mother of the Ishmaelites, condemned Moshe who gave us the Torah. Even the Ishmaelites who took possession of a Land that was not given to them, understood its miraculous powers better than those who were never troubled by their disinheritance from it.
Those who love the Land, understand that the Land speaks, and water pours forth even from a rock. The Land will not tolerate its children being torn from them, and its children will not tolerate being separated from her. One doesn’t need to be a rabbinical student to understand this he only needs a new heart formed in the Land of Israel.
Despite leaders that accept the unacceptable, and continue to lash out at their arch-enemies, instead of speaking to the hearts of the people, the hearts of the people will speak to them and alone, they will bring forth miracles from above. A new generation has already entered the Land and despite all the Pharaohs of Egypt and our own Meraglim and Korach’s and rock hitting rabbis, the revolution has begun and from here you can smell the salt of the sea beginning to part.
Comments:
Are you still posting here...I just read your Lifestyles article written by my friend Suzanne. Try me at adammezei@hotmail.com. Peter's son.
I've been checking back regularly...still haven't seen anything -- thought I'd drop in and say hello...when something's up next, I'd be honoured to comment once more.
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