Dear Friends,
In truth, I am not sure what the message of this week’s Torah portion is; perhaps you should reply and tell me.
It could be… this week in Exodus we encounter the initial six of the ten plagues, just as the coronavirus reaches new heights of cases reported, hospitalizations and death. Indeed, this year we do not need to read of yesteryear’s plagues; we are encountering today’s plagues, and we pray that illness and death will cease with the vaccine, as the ancient plagues ended with God’s defeat of Pharaoh.
Or, it could be… this week we read of Pharaoh’s hardened heart preventing him from responding to the suffering of his people, or others, and digging his heels in to stand against the reality of Egypt’s calamity. Similarly, we have witnessed President Trump reluctant to admit the reality of the American election, and then failing to respond to both the calamity of COVID, and the unspeakable attack on our Capital.
Or, it could be… this week our encountering the courage of Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh as lonely voices for truth and freedom, echoed in the votes of ten courageous Republican lawmakers, who demonstrated integrity and fearlessness in the face of personal ad hominem attacks to vote against their party’s position, and put their nation and their people above their ambition.
Or it could be… our reading this week that after the sixth plague, the fiery hail, Pharaoh admitted his guilt and pledged to let the Israelites go, only to recant “and revert to his guilty ways” once the hail abated. This, reflected in President Trump’s repentant calls for peace after the violence and his impeachment, shows the fickleness of narcissistic leaders facing reproach.
Irrespective of one’s political position, the confluence of Torah and the episodes of this week are stunningly aligned.
I always marvel at the timeliness of Torah. Consistently, it links timeless messages with timely circumstances, and transcends positions or attitudes of the moment to offer commentary and instruction for every age: have courage amid troubles, be truthful, stand with integrity, seek stability in difficult times.
So, what is the message of this week’s Torah portion?
Hazak v’amatz – be of strength and of courage!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
In truth, I am not sure what the message of this week’s Torah portion is; perhaps you should reply and tell me.
It could be… this week in Exodus we encounter the initial six of the ten plagues, just as the coronavirus reaches new heights of cases reported, hospitalizations and death. Indeed, this year we do not need to read of yesteryear’s plagues; we are encountering today’s plagues, and we pray that illness and death will cease with the vaccine, as the ancient plagues ended with God’s defeat of Pharaoh.
Or, it could be… this week we read of Pharaoh’s hardened heart preventing him from responding to the suffering of his people, or others, and digging his heels in to stand against the reality of Egypt’s calamity. Similarly, we have witnessed President Trump reluctant to admit the reality of the American election, and then failing to respond to both the calamity of COVID, and the unspeakable attack on our Capital.
Or, it could be… this week our encountering the courage of Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh as lonely voices for truth and freedom, echoed in the votes of ten courageous Republican lawmakers, who demonstrated integrity and fearlessness in the face of personal ad hominem attacks to vote against their party’s position, and put their nation and their people above their ambition.
Or it could be… our reading this week that after the sixth plague, the fiery hail, Pharaoh admitted his guilt and pledged to let the Israelites go, only to recant “and revert to his guilty ways” once the hail abated. This, reflected in President Trump’s repentant calls for peace after the violence and his impeachment, shows the fickleness of narcissistic leaders facing reproach.
Irrespective of one’s political position, the confluence of Torah and the episodes of this week are stunningly aligned.
I always marvel at the timeliness of Torah. Consistently, it links timeless messages with timely circumstances, and transcends positions or attitudes of the moment to offer commentary and instruction for every age: have courage amid troubles, be truthful, stand with integrity, seek stability in difficult times.
So, what is the message of this week’s Torah portion?
Hazak v’amatz – be of strength and of courage!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
