PEOPLE OF DISTINCTION IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Pesach 5783 (Part 1)

Nisan 15-22, 5783 / April 5-22, 2023
 
Torah Day 1: Exodus 12:21-51
Maftir Day 1: Numbers 28:16-25
Haftarah Day 1: Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2 - 6:1; 6:27 (Ashkenazim); Joshua 5:2 – 6:1; 6:27 (Sephardim)
 
Torah Day 2: Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44
Maftir Day 2: Numbers 28:16-25
Haftarah Day 2: 2 Kings 23:1-9; 23:21-25
 
Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed
Torah: Exodus 33:12 - 34:26
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:1-14

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This d'var torah is offered in honor of my wonderful wife and life partner Lynn Kronzek, celebrating her birthday this Shabbat, April 8. Ad me'ah v'esrim, my dear!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of my aunt, Gertrude "Gig" Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Nisan 12. Y'hi zekherah liv'rakhah - May her memory be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live.

NOTE: NO MEETING ON APRIL 4 - CLEANING FOR PESACH.

We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. 
On April 11, we'll be at BT Shabbat 56a, page 149 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 -  "...גופא רב אמר" - "This is the substance of that which is mentioned above: Rab said...” 
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630 
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 
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My annual Pesach Resources page is now available! Check out:
https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2023/03/pesach-resources-5783.html  
The page will be updated as needed before Pesach.
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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PEOPLE OF DISTINCTION IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

'(Moses said to God): "If Your Presence (literally, Your face) 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.

A Ukrainian 19th-century lubok (print) representing the Seder table

Sometimes, though, it seems that God's Presence is far away - especially with the recent rise in antisemitism in the US and elsewhere, and Jews fighting amongst themselves, even in their own Land. It might be tempting to ask God, "What have You done for us lately?" The Seder shel Pesach offers 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.

Chag Pesach Sameach U'mashma'uti!

Have a Happy and Meaningful Pesach!
 

Rabbi Richard A. Flom, Rabbi Emeritus

TBH/CBM

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1 

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