Parashat Sh’mot
Torah: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1
Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22-23 (Ashkenazim); Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3
Tevet 21, 5782 / December 24-25, 2021
Torah: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1
Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22-23 (Ashkenazim); Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3
Tevet 21, 5782 / December 24-25, 2021
This d'var torah is offered in honor of my wonderful life partner Lynn Kronzek on the occasion of our 41st wedding anniversary on December 28. Thank you, my dear, for all you do!
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.
Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov.
A link to the reading is here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jt-NLamlIiAGpBhU7WNrCVZGBYhHHWCN/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jt-NLamlIiAGpBhU7WNrCVZGBYhHHWCN/view?usp=sharing
On December 21, we’ll be continuing from the middle of page 32, "V'amar Rabbah bar Chinena saba mishmeih d'Rav" - "Rabba b. Chinena, the Senior, in the name of Rab, said further:"..
NO Lunch and Learn on December 28. Resume January 4.
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Levantine Asiatics making bricks - Paintings from the Tomb of Rekh-Mi-Rēˁ
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 might (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 to the “higher power” (God as we understand God) 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 God 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.
If we turn ourselves over to the “higher power” (God as we understand God) 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 God 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!
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
-----------------------------------------------
Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
