THE UNBEARABLE BURDEN OF PATIENCE

Parashat Sh’mot
18 Tevet 5775 / 9-10 January 2015

Torah: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1

Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org

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 THE UNBEARABLE BURDEN OF PATIENCE

“And they set taskmasters over them in order to afflict them with their burdens ...”  Exodus 1:11

“And so it was in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked upon their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, one of his brethren. Turning this way and that, and seeing that there was no man, he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” 2:11-12

“Therefore say to the Children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord and I will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt (mitzrayim).... and you will know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from under the burdens of Egypt.’” 6:6-7

The Hebrew word for “burdens” is “sivlot” (סבלות), from the root s-v-l (ס-ב-ל). The root means “tolerate, endure, suffer”. It is also the root for the word “savlanut” (סבלנות), meaning “patience”. What exactly was the “burden”? Was it the slavery itself, or was it the acceptance of that slavery? Some commentators understand Moses’ actions to mean that he saw no man among the Hebrews who was willing to stand up and defend his fellow. No one would or could "man up!" They had come to accept their slavery and were not willing or able to fight for themselves. 

Many of us are in a type of Egypt. The Hebrew word for Egypt, “mitzrayim” (מצרים) literally means “narrow places”, but can be understood to mean “between a rock and a hard place”. In the case of addictions and other self-destructive behavior, it is usually we ourselves who set the taskmaster over us, who create the burden. We (initially) choose to take drugs or gamble, etc., and then get caught up in it. Once we become accepting of our self-inflicted suffering (we might even like it in a way), we find it difficult, if not impossible to pull ourselves out. True, we might be rescued by a Moses, who will fight for us when he sees that we have lost our ability to save ourselves. But we can't count on that.

If we turn ourselves over the “higher power” (God as we understand Him) that the Twelve Step programs advocate, if we acknowledge our inadequacy and inability, and seek help, then perhaps we will be delivered by God’s grace from the narrow, constricting space we find ourselves in. God did not act until He heard the groaning and cries for help from the Israelites. More important, perhaps, if we take positive, constructive action to eliminate our burdens, then we demonstrate we deserve or have earned deliverance. We need to take the first step. God helps those who help themselves.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Congregation Beth Meier

Studio City, CA

http://www.bethmeier.org

Blogging at: rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Visit me on Facebook

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Candlelighting: 4:43 pm

Friday: Family Shabbat Evening Service – 7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday:  Religious School – 9:30 am. Adult Hebrew class – 10:00 am.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 Noon.

Looking ahead:

Sunday, 18 January: Women's Rosh Chodesh Group - "New Moons, Shofars, and Women: Celebrating Rosh Chodesh Then and Now", presented by Jeannette Hartmann. 12:00 Noon - light lunch served. RSVP to office. 

Sunday, 25 January: Congregation Beth Meier Annual Members’ Meeting – 2:00 pm.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Boaz ben Dina, Michah ben Dina, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Bonnie Baird, Stewart Benkle, Jeff Bluen, Elsbet Brosky, John Todd Brosky, Howard Ehrlich, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Jerry Forman, Leo Hoenig (Leib ben Bella), Neal Hoffman (Nachum ben Dina), Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne Kaplan, Lina Kniter (Lina bat Batya), Jeannie Kottler, Shirley Kronzek, and Annie Rivera.

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