People of Distinction in the Presence of God

Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed Pesach

19 Nisan 5773 / 29-30 March 2013

Torah: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14

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People of Distinction in the Presence of God

(Moses said to God): "If Your Presence does not go along, do not bring us forward from here. How then will it be known that I have found favor in Your eyes - I and Your people - unless You accompany us, and I and Your people be made distinct from every people on the face of the earth!" Exodus 33:15-16

 

Moses' plaintive cry to God asks for two things: first, that God's Presence remain with the Children of Israel; they would have preferred staying in the desert rather than going forward without God; and, second, that the Children of Israel be made distinct from every other nation.

There is no question that the second request has been granted. The Jews are unique, and have been for millennia. The first to worship the One God, the recipients, beneficiaries and distributors of God's Torah, the first to observe Shabbat, the only people ever to revive a nation and a language (after two thousand years, no less!) - our practices and beliefs set us apart from the other nations of the world. We are the Choosing People, as well as the Chosen People.

Sometimes, though, it seems that God's Presence is far away - especially with the recent rise in anti-semitism and violence being perpetrated against the Jewish people throughout the world, as in France - even in their own Land. It might be tempting to ask God, "What have You done for us lately?" The Seder shel Pesach offered its own answer - God has done more than enough for us over our history. Dayenu. That we are still here, that we can celebrate that history, and that we continue to make history, provide the proof that God's Presence has not left us. And that is the greatest distinction of them all.

Mo’adim l’simchah! Shabbat shalom!

Seasons of Joy and a Peaceful Shabbat!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

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"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
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Candlelighting:

Shabbat - 6:53 pm

Sunday (7^th Day of Pesach) – 6:55 pm
Monday (8^th Day of Pesach – Yizkor Tuesday morning) – 7:52 pm
Tuesday – Pesach ends – 7:52 pm

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. We will NOT be meeting again until after Pesach. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 9, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier, 11725 Moorpark St., Studio City 91604. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of Morris “Morry” Kronzek, who died on Sunday night. May his memory be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, Kitty Schmerling and Helen Tomsky.

My weekly divrei torah are also available via e-mail subscription to Cyber Torah.

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