Is that what You have to say?

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Bs"d

Is that what You have to say?

 

We are told by our Sages that all Jews from all generations were present at the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

Now imagine you standing there. For many months, you have been preparing for this momentous occasion. You have counted down the days breathlessly. This was to be a one-time event, never before and never after. To see G-d Himself in all His glory, what a sight to behold!

Finally, the day arrives. After three days of intense prayer and preparation, the moment has come. With lighting and thunder, smoke and fire, G-d makes his first grand appearance before his chosen nation. Awesome!

With a fast-beating heart and a mind overwhelmed with emotion, you stand there with your pad and paper ready to transcribe the constitution of the Jewish people.

BOOM! G-d's voice is heard throughout the universe: "I am the Lord your G-d that has taken you out of Egypt."

OK, sounds fair. After all, He first has to introduce Himself! The second one, "Thou shall have no other G-d," doesn't raise too many eyebrows either; its common sense that one should remain loyal to his boss.

BOOM! "Don't use my name in vain!" The pad continues to fill up – no question marks, it's all totally logical.

The fourth clause changes direction. It is no longer about belief and respect, now it's about action: "Keep the Shabbat holy!" Wow!

Then you hear the words "Honor your father and mother." You pause for a second. Did G-d have to come down to this world to teach us about honoring our parents?

But you ponder for only a moment, quickly reminding yourself of the confrontation you had but a few minutes ago with your mom. Yes! What a real challenge it is to respect and honor your parents at all times!

You wait expectantly for the next set of five.

And then the big bang comes – "Don't kill!" You fall over backwards; all your journalistic training has not prepared you for this one!

"Don't commit adultery!" For Heaven's sake… "Don't' steel! Don't be jealous!"

There are 613 commandments in the Torah. Aren't any of them more "Jewish" and G-dly than murder, adultery, theft, lies and jealousy? Did G-d have nothing more important to share with us then basic civility and common sense?

It takes some time and, slowly, you understand. As you travel through history and meet the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Cossacks and, finally, the Holocaust, you understand that nothing is too obvious.

Unfortunately, personal morality has too often failed humankind. Social norms are relative, and sophistication is no guarantee of peace. As world-renowned Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel put it, "Cold-blooded murder and culture did not exclude each other. If the Holocaust proved anything, it is that a person can both love poems and kill children".  

The only absolute morality is Divine morality – a code of law made by G-d for man, not by man. History has proven it over and over again.

In His first address to the nation G-d put down the rule of all rules: "Do it because I said so. For that is the only way for common sense to remain common."

*

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

 

Moshiach Now!

Shabbat Shalom

(Rabbi) Levi Avtzon

4 = 0

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Bs"d

 

4 = 0

As the Jews stood with their faces towards the endless sea, Pharaoh with his troops close behind them, the Jews, unsure of what to expect, split into four opinions (what a surprise…).

Group One stood up and cried. "Guys, it's all over," they wept. "We have nowhere to turn and Egypt is out of the question. Let drown ourselves in the sea!"

Group Two countered, "Ok, nice try, we all thought we could do the impossible and escape from Mighty Egypt. It's time to raise the white flag, and go back as slaves."

Group Three was comprised of men who were proud and firm, "Fight the Egyptians! Fight the oppressor! We shall never return as slaves!"

And finally, Group Four, who were the most devout of them all, felt that the best solution was to pray to the Almighty for salvation, "Only He can help us!"

Well… when representatives from all four parties sent delegations before Moses, Moses turned to G-d and asked Him to tell the Jews what they should do.

What did G-d say? "Why are you crying to Me? Tell the Jews to move forward!"  No suicide, no prayer, no war and no surrender. G-d had commanded to travel to Sinai, so that's what had to be done! There's a sea in the way? The Egyptians are after you? Who cares! Just move on.

The Jews walked into the sea and the waters split!

 Now let's play a little 'elimination'. We can all agree that Group 1 had a weak case; after all had G-d taken the Jews out of Egypt only that they should commit suicide a few days later? Group 2 is also eliminated, due to the compelling question: did G-d make ten plagues and all the other miracles, only to be back at square one? So 1 and 2 are eliminated.

Groups 3 and 4 however seemingly had a pretty compelling case with their two noble flags of 'defiance' and 'prayer, what was problem with their logic?

This: G-d had told the Jews to move towards Sinai. He never mentioned anything about prayer, suicide, war or white flags, all He said was: "Go to Sinai to receive the Torah!" So that is what was expected from them, "Go!"

Then and now the road to good is constantly threatened by rivers and Egyptians, immorality and skepticism. So many 'noble' ideas and thoughts make their way to the discussions and Op-Ed's. The weak cry defeat, the proud declare war, and the pious call for prayer.

Although some of the ideas are more virtuous than others, they are all wrong nevertheless. Things must get accomplished, the world must be transformed, and G-d commands: "Move! Just move on! There is a mission to be accomplished in this world, and it cannot wait. Take on the problems head on (jump into the sea), and you will see that it was an illusion!"

 There are many opinions about the problem, but there is only one solution to the problem: Action!

* * *

"Doctor! I'm scared, this is my first surgery!"

"Don't worry; it's also my first surgery!"

Moshiach Now!

Shabbat Shalom

(Rabbi) Levi Avtzon