This week's portion is the opening of the book of Numbers. It describes the precise arrangement of the various tribes of Israel as they encamped, and the way in which they used to travel. It is about establishing order in a void.
Many military leaders have observed that the tiny rituals of a soldier or sailor's life -- folding clothes properly, making a bed, polishing boots, etc. -- may seem useless, but they instill a sense of discipline and coherence that later saves lives.
I am particularly fond of this portion because I read it on my bar mitzvah. The additional reading, from Hosea 2, includes two passages (21-22) that are recited every morning upon winding the tefillin straps around one's finger.
The verses talk about betrothal, and though they mean a betrothal of the Jewish people to God, I always think about my own connection to my wife, who enriched and renewed my faith, and bound me closer to it, through her.
This weekend (Saturday night through Monday at nightfall) also marks the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, or Pentecost, celebrating the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. We celebrate in many ways -- studying all night and reading the book of Ruth, which celebrates both faith and romance. And we also eat a lot of ice cream and other dairy products, remembering that the Israelites refrained from eating meat before Mount Sinai. A delightful treat!
This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”
There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?
Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.
But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.
Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...
The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.
Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?
One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).
Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).
Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.
Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.
Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!
