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…
Rabbi Wolpe - ADL Impressions
March
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…
January
Bo – How to Earn Respect
It is one of the most puzzling verses in the Torah: “Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.’ God made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people. (Ex. 11:2,3).” Really, the Egyptians thought well of the Israelites? Moses was “Gadol Meod” – very great in their eyes? The text says God caused it, but we always look for natural explanations as well. Why on earth would the Egyptians, having suffered through the plagues,…
Vaera – Why Didn’t the Plagues Work?
We are used to the idea that there were ten plagues, but why did God need more than one? Presumably, once Pharoah and the people of Egypt saw the Nile turn to blood or frogs magically multiply across the land someone would have said, “Ok! We get the idea. This slavery thing is bad.” Even before God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (which doesn’t happen until the 6th plague), the drama should have been over. Socrates argued that if people only knew what the right thing was to do, they would act accordingly. The question was just one of knowledge. Well, it…
Shemot – When the Bush is Consumed
God speaks from the fire in the burning bush, but Moses knows that God is not in the fire. God speaks to Elijah after the fire on Carmel, and the text tells us explicitly that God is not in the fire. Yet fire as a Divine medium recurs, and we associate fire with the Divine because of its ungovernable force, sweeping away everything before it. These past two weeks, my home city of Los Angeles has learned yet again the power of fire to devastate homes and lives. Like Moses, we do not see God’s self in the fire, but…
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