TAKE A WALK IN GOD’S SHOES

Tishrei 19, 5782 / September 24-25, 2021
Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed Sukkot 
Torah: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26 
Maftir: Numbers 29:23-28
Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:16
Book of Ecclesiastes
 
Tishrei 22/ September 27-28
Sh’mini Atzeret
Torah: Deuteronomy 14:22 – 16:17
Maftir: Numbers 29:35 – 30:1
Haftarah: 1 Kings 8:54-66
 
Tishrei 23 / September 28-29
Simchat Torah
Torah:  23 Deuteronomy 33:1 – 26; Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
Maftir: Numbers 29:35 – 30:1
Haftarah: Joshua 1:1-18
 
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Elisheva bat Minnie Leah, Feigel bat Kreina, and D'vorah bat Feigel. 
 
Lunch and Learn resumes on Tuesday, October 5.  We'll be completing our study of Rambam's Hilkhot Teshuvah - The Laws of Repentance. Then we'll be learning something NEW! Proposed text study ideas welcome!
 
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at:
https://bnaihayim.org/ 
 
Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog of Divrei Torah, including his High Holy Day Sermons which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 

Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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TAKE A WALK IN GOD’S SHOES

'And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, make Your ways known to me ...'  Exodus 33:13

'The Lord passed before (Moses) and proclaimed: "The Lord, the Lord, God, Compassionate and Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and in Truth; Preserving Mercy for Thousands of Generations; Forgiving Iniquity, Willful Sin, and Error; and Cleansing ..."'  Exodus 34:6-7

In response to Moses' request, God shows God's glory, and describes Godself. These are regarded by Jewish tradition as the Thirteen Attributes of God. The verses are also recited as a prayer on Yom Kippur and other fast and holy days (except Shabbat), when we ask God for mercy. But is it only a prayer?

The early rabbinic text, Sifre, says of the commandment "to walk in all His ways" (Deuteronomy 11:22) - "Just as God is compassionate and gracious, you too must be compassionate and gracious."   
 
This is far more than a prayer that God taught to Moses to be recited at times of crisis. It is a guide to right conduct.

We have just completed the introspective period of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are now served up this reminder of what it is that we promised God and ourselves only a week ago - to be better people this year - compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, ....

Perhaps we can't walk in God's ways all of the time. But every journey begins with a single step. Time to lace up those walking shoes!

Have a great Shabbat, and may you spend the remaining days of Sukkot, and every day for that matter, in a "sukkat shalom" - a shelter of peace.
 
Mo’adim L’Simchah! Chagim Uz’manim L’sason! Shabbat Shalom! Chag Shemini Atzeret Sameach! Chag Simchat Torah Sameach!
 
Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus
TBH/CBM
Sherman Oaks, CA
".איזה הוא חכם? הלומד מכל אדם"
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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