When did the redemption from Egypt begin in the Torah? According to the Rabbis, it began when the Israelites themselves became angry and impatient with their slavery. The worst consequence of slavery, taught the Belzer Rebbe, was that they got used to it. Once the Israelites began to feel their own pain and appreciate their own worth, they cried out for redemption. That is one reason why on Passover we read the Song of Songs, which is a love story. Passover itself is a kind of love story, both between Israel and God and among the Israelites themselves. Recognition of…
Rabbi Wolpe - ADL Impressions
April
Vayikra – Forgiveness
A Hasidic parable tells of a king who quarreled with his son. In a fit of rage, the king exiled his son from the kingdom. Years passed. The son wandered alone in the world. In time, the king’s heart softened, so he sent his ministers to find his son and ask him to return. When they located the young man, he said that he could not return; he had been too hurt, and his heart still harbored bitterness. The ministers brought the sad news back to the king. He told them to return to his son with the message: “Return…
March
Pekudey – Fire, Fragility, and Holiness
In Pekudey, we read about the construction of the tabernacle. The tabernacle is a portable sanctuary, a place for God to be manifested to the people. It is a harbinger of the Temple, but it does something the Temple cannot do — it moves with the people. Judaism throughout its history has constructed buildings that were temporary. Not only the Sukkah, which is designed to be temporary, but the sanctuaries and synagogues that served a community for as long as that community was permitted to stay — or even to exist. We did not have the desire or the stability…
Vayakhel – Still Not Consumed
We might be tempted to skip some of the descriptions of the Temple and its appurtenances; they are not as gripping as the stories the Torah tells. But if we pause and look a little deeper, there are metaphorical and mystical levels that can yield wonders. The Menorah in the Temple is described with each branch bearing cups shaped like almond blossoms. Indeed, the Menorah has a kaneh (stem), kanim (branches), and perachim (flowers). In other words, the Menorah is an almond tree on which we kindle a flame. The Hebrew name of the almond, shaked, is connected to the…
Purim – The Unsung Hero
The Purim story is one of heroes and villians. We all recognize the names of Mordecai and Esther, Haman and Ahasuerus. But I would like to propose a new hero of the story, one who bears a lesson for our times. His name was Hatach. If you do not remember him, that is understandable. In chapter 4, Hatach – the eunuch assigned to Esther in the King’s harem – carries secret messages back and forth between Esther and Mordecai. It is Hatach who, at Esther’s bidding, informs Mordecai of Haman’s scheme. And it is Hatach who reports to Esther perhaps…
Tetzaveh – Agents of Change
Confronted with the demand to fix the world, many of us content ourselves with complaining about it. Conscious of the immensity of the problems we feel helpless to change things. In our Haftorah this week, Samuel rebukes King Saul for this: “Even if you are small in your own eyes, you are the king of Israel…and God has sent you on a journey (1 Sam. 15:17,18). This is Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of remembrance. In it, we recall the attacks on Israel in the desert by the nation of Amalek. According to our tradition, Amalek survived to threaten us again…
February
Terumah – Goodnight, Moon
This Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh, the celebration of the new moon. Since Judaism works on a lunar calendar, each month is a renewal. When the new moon falls on Shabbat, we recite the shorter Hallel, psalms of praise. If you go outside to see the new moon, however, you see only darkness. Jewish tradition heralds the coming of the moon before one can see it in the sky. This quirk of the calendar is a grand metaphor for the Jewish view of the world. Jewish tradition celebrates the moon because the light will grow. The sky may be dark now,…
Mishpatim – All About the Budget
Early in my career, after years of teaching, I became a pulpit rabbi. I asked a variety of rabbis how they lead. One was broadly inspirational and philosophical. Another rabbi explained to me that education was the key. At the next lunch, I sat with a rabbi who began, “It is all about the budget. It doesn’t matter what they say they care about or even what they claim to know, just look at how they spend.” We have just concluded the great revelation at Sinai. Israel is surrounded by the thunder and lightning, the majesty of God’s presence. Now…
Yithro – Being an Ally
This week’s section of the Torah is primary in importance as it contains the Ten Commandments. It might seem surprising then, to learn that this section is named after a non-Jew, Moses’ father-in-law, Yithro. We know of the Torah’s concern that Jews care for the stranger, since ‘the stranger’ is mentioned 36 times in the text, and we are even commanded to “love the stranger” (Deut. 10:19). What might be less obvious is the Torah’s insistence on the reverse: there are people of goodwill who, although not Jewish themselves, will always fight for Jewish values and the Jewish people. When…
B’Shallach – Are We One or Many?
If we translate the Torah literally, a strange asymmetry appears in the story of the Exodus. Verse 14:10 reads: “As Pharoah drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes and Egypt was coming after them.” Commentators note that while the Israelites are described in the plural, Egypt is described in the singular – not “Egyptians were coming after them,” but rather, “Egypt.” For the Israelites saw Egypt as being unified for one purpose – to capture, kill, and re-enslave the people Israel. Yet, the Israelites were not unified. According to our Sages, some wished to surrender, some wished to…
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