Dear Friends,
I have been wishing people “A meaningful Passover” this year. It has been hard for me to mouth the words, “Happy Passover.”
What have you been saying? Have the words come out readily?
Sometimes words just don’t sound correct, especially when we are seven months into a horrible war, with no end in sight, while another horrible war in Ukraine is now at over two years, with its end also nowhere in sight. How can we feign expressing simple happiness, when turmoil abides? Words seem fleeting.
On the Shabbat of Passover, the Torah seems to reaffirm this. Although one might think we should read the portion of our exodus from Egypt – that is read earlier in Pesach—during Shabbat we read of Moses encounter with God on the mountain, after the Golden Calf episode when Moses destroyed the first set of Ten Commandments. Moses returned to the mountaintop to convene with God, and to craft a second set of Commandments.
During this Sinai sojourn, Moses asked God to “Show me Your glory.” Essentially, Moses asked to see God’s face. God then told Moses to stand beside a rock, and God would pass by, allowing Moses to see a glimpse of the Divine.
Many readers have been rightly troubled by the potential of Moses “seeing” God. However, there is another, key moment in our portion: God is showing Moses some Divine presence, likely as a salve and a comfort. Moses was disturbed by the people’s rebelliousness, and by his own questionable effectiveness as a leader. The world looked difficult and abounding in challenges. Moses needed reassurance.
Instead of mere words – though God did tell Moses that he would not be alone, and that God would walk with him – God was wise enough to offer presence, and not only words. As powerful as words may be, they are limited. How often do we struggle to find just the proper word for a moment! But presence – that goes without saying!
When we do not know what to say – beyond reaching for a Hallmark card – we know that an embrace, a visit, a smile or a silent nod might say far more.
Thus, this year when it appears that we must be content with discontent, it may be just as wise to withhold the words, and offer presence, instead. It goes without saying!
Shabbat Shalom, and for a Meaningful Passover,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
I have been wishing people “A meaningful Passover” this year. It has been hard for me to mouth the words, “Happy Passover.”
What have you been saying? Have the words come out readily?
Sometimes words just don’t sound correct, especially when we are seven months into a horrible war, with no end in sight, while another horrible war in Ukraine is now at over two years, with its end also nowhere in sight. How can we feign expressing simple happiness, when turmoil abides? Words seem fleeting.
On the Shabbat of Passover, the Torah seems to reaffirm this. Although one might think we should read the portion of our exodus from Egypt – that is read earlier in Pesach—during Shabbat we read of Moses encounter with God on the mountain, after the Golden Calf episode when Moses destroyed the first set of Ten Commandments. Moses returned to the mountaintop to convene with God, and to craft a second set of Commandments.
During this Sinai sojourn, Moses asked God to “Show me Your glory.” Essentially, Moses asked to see God’s face. God then told Moses to stand beside a rock, and God would pass by, allowing Moses to see a glimpse of the Divine.
Many readers have been rightly troubled by the potential of Moses “seeing” God. However, there is another, key moment in our portion: God is showing Moses some Divine presence, likely as a salve and a comfort. Moses was disturbed by the people’s rebelliousness, and by his own questionable effectiveness as a leader. The world looked difficult and abounding in challenges. Moses needed reassurance.
Instead of mere words – though God did tell Moses that he would not be alone, and that God would walk with him – God was wise enough to offer presence, and not only words. As powerful as words may be, they are limited. How often do we struggle to find just the proper word for a moment! But presence – that goes without saying!
When we do not know what to say – beyond reaching for a Hallmark card – we know that an embrace, a visit, a smile or a silent nod might say far more.
Thus, this year when it appears that we must be content with discontent, it may be just as wise to withhold the words, and offer presence, instead. It goes without saying!
Shabbat Shalom, and for a Meaningful Passover,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
