A white Shabbos, Blessings and our Obligation to Share - Parshot Vaera through Beshallach

I’m dreaming of a white Shabbos......

I have to admit, I love snowstorms and especially love blizzards – but only when everyone I know is safe and warm at home and the electricity doesn’t go out! It’s a time to catch up on some sleep, play board games with family, watch movies, and for me – continue in the ongoing process of organizing my house. Said project began at Sinai, the same time we received the Torah, so I figure it’s okay for it to be never ending:)

At January’s Shabbat services at the Olney Kehila I gave everyone there a charge, which was to read [skim] that week’s parsha Vaera (Exodus 6:2 – 9:35) and envision themselves as Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, the Egyptians, the Israelites and even God, as Moses asked Pharaoh to let our people go.  How did each character feel during this challenging and frightening time.  I likened the time to Halloween – where children go around shouting  “Trick or Treat!” The children expect candy and  don't really have the intention to pull a trick on anyone – at least not these days. I see Moses going to Pharaoh and saying “Trick or Treat!” – the treat being the exodus, the trick being the 10 plagues. Huge consequences. How much did Moses even know of the plagues were coming and the extent of the devastation?

In this week’s Torah portion, Beshallach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) we read the conclusion to the Trick or Treat tale started in Vaera. Pharaoh has finally had enough and the Israelites leave Egypt. Almost immediately, Pharaoh changes his mind and the Israelites find themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Sea of Reeds. We know how it ends – the sea splits, the Israelites get through safely, and the Egyptians are vanquished as the sea closes in on them.  How did each of the characters feel at this moment – Moses as a new leader wondering how to save his people (before the sea opens), the Israelites feeling like they went from the frying pan into the fire, the sea anticipating God’s miracle, Pharaoh’s soldiers flying toward them on their horses,  Pharaoh himself in a rage after having lost his son in the 10^th plague and now his slaves.... So much going on.

When the Israelites get to the other side of the Sea of Reeds they sing and rejoice in their safety and freedom.  They sang words familiar to us today – the prayer Mi Chamocha:

“Who is like You among the powerful, O Lord? Who is like You, powerful in the holy place? Too awesome for praises, performing wonders!”

Outside our windows we see the snow coming down, quite steadily, eventually it will come down relentlessly. It reminds us of the hazards of nature (God’s creation) but also of how much we have to be thankful for (God’s gifts) – shelter, food, heat, family.

We must also, always, remember that there are those among us who do not share in our blessings. Those who are homeless or who live in substandard environments. If you are so moved, donate to Stepping Stones Shelter, the Red Cross and other organizations that help those less fortunate. And if you see anyone out in the cold with no place to go, call 240-777-4448 (Montgomery County).

If the Torah teaches us anything, it’s to be aware of our blessings and to share them when we can.

Stay safe and warm,

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbah Arlene

Parashat Beshallach: The murmuring motif

Exodus 13:17-17:16.

The Dvar Torah was published in the Washington Jewish Week on January 8, 2014

Parshat Beshallach contains one of the most profound Jewish stories — our ancestors pursuit by Pharoah and his troops out of Egypt into the desert, the splitting and crossing of the Sea of Reeds, and the subsequent drowning of the Egyptians and their horses. Moshe sang his song and then Miriam and the women took their tambourines and danced. We were free of slavery and on our way to becoming a nation. This is the exciting part of the parsha. We re-enact it on Pesach and are proud of it. Our people have faith in their leaders and have faith in their God.

But there is more to this parsha than the elation felt in the first half. There is a pattern of murmuring or complaint that is found throughout the chapters and is at counterpoint to the joy we just experienced. I’ve often described this phenomenon as the pattern of “our ancestors kvetching their way through the desert.” In this pattern, b’nai Yisrael (the children of Israel) complain about a real or perceived need, and they speak against/murmur/complain to Moshe, who in turn intercedes on their behalf with God. In the end, God listens to the complaints and fulfills whatever the particular need is of the moment. It is instructive that God never just ignored the children of Israel as they complained, especially as right after their need is met, they tend to start the complaint cycle anew.

This pattern occurs no less than four times in our parsha. The first time is actually right before the splitting of the sea (Exodus 14:11-14) as the children of Israel were “trapped” between the Egyptian army and the Sea of Reeds. They begin what will become an all too familiar trope, crying to Moshe, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?” They had witnessed miracles but as soon as they encountered hardship or danger, God’s miracles were forgotten and the complaints began. Moshe responded with reassurance of God’s salvation and God delivered by splitting the sea.

We find out next “kvetch” just three days later when the people came to a place called Marah, which means bitter in Hebrew. The water there was too bitter to drink and the people murmered against Moshe, asking him “What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:24). Again, Moshe cried out to God to rectify the situation, and God sweetened the waters for b’nai Yisrael to drink.

Our third “kvetch” happens in the Wilderness of Sin about one month after the Exodus. This time we find the people murmuring against Moshe and Aaron, because they had run out of food. They reminisced about Egypt where they “sat by the meat pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for you have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3) Again, Moshe speaks to God and the story of themannah and the quail results.

The final “kvetch” of the parsha takes place on the next leg of the journey as the people, according to the commandment of God, encamped in Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7). Once again they are at a place where there is no water. It becomes clear that Moshe takes these particular complaints seriously as he cries out to God that he is afraid the people will stone him if it escalates anymore. God responds by telling him to strike a rock and drinking water will flow from it. Moshe strikes the rock with his staff and water flows. The place where this incident occurred is named Massah u’Meribah. The Meribah, from the root form riv, meaning to quarrel, and Massah from the root form nasah, meaning to test or try God by saying “Is God in our midst or not?”

We start our story with receiving freedom in joy. The story continues with discontent and an inability to deal with the real life challenges of this journey. The murmuring motif in thisparsha is seen as representing b’nai Yisrael’s wilderness journey and their lack of faith in God in contrast to Moshe’s steadfast faith. I prefer to see it as representative of a people’s journey from a slave mentality to that of a free people and their nascent relationship with a God they are just beginning to understand and with whom they are forming an “adult” relationship.

As Jews we are constantly being tested — our beliefs, our morals, our values. It is a sign of maturity to be able to deal with challenging situations with a modicum of grace. It is a sign of faith to be willing to take on challenges and face the unknown. It is human to complain — just not too often.

Questions for discussion:
Look at the murmuring/kvetching incidents in the parsha and determine for yourself what motivated the Children of Israel.
What were their feelings towards Moshe? Towards God?
Why do you think Moshe and God acted the way they did?
How would you have acted had you been there?

Shabbat Shalom! 

Rabbah Arlene