Winston Churchill is said to have written, “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.”
In last week’s Torah portion, the Jews achieved their physical freedom, when they crossed the Sea of Reeds and Pharaoh’s army died beneath the waves. This event was the birth of the Jewish people as they passed through water from slavery to freedom.
But our Torah teaches us that physical freedom is not sufficient for a meaningful life. In this week’s Torah portion the Jewish people stand before Mt. Sinai and receive their divine purpose and mission as God reveals the Torah through Moses. Before the revelation, God says to the Israelites
“Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
The purpose of Jewish existence is to spread God’s message of justice and morality to the nations of the earth. The Jewish people were set free for a reason. We have a divine charge, a divine purpose. So it is for each of us. Every human being is part of the Divine plan. Our task is to seek out our purpose and live it, then our lives truly have meaning.
Yitro – Exodus Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, February 15, 2020
February 14, 2020 by Dean Kertesz •
Winston Churchill is said to have written, “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.”
In last week’s Torah portion, the Jews achieved their physical freedom, when they crossed the Sea of Reeds and Pharaoh’s army died beneath the waves. This event was the birth of the Jewish people as they passed through water from slavery to freedom.
But our Torah teaches us that physical freedom is not sufficient for a meaningful life. In this week’s Torah portion the Jewish people stand before Mt. Sinai and receive their divine purpose and mission as God reveals the Torah through Moses. Before the revelation, God says to the Israelites
“Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6)
The purpose of Jewish existence is to spread God’s message of justice and morality to the nations of the earth. The Jewish people were set free for a reason. We have a divine charge, a divine purpose. So it is for each of us. Every human being is part of the Divine plan. Our task is to seek out our purpose and live it, then our lives truly have meaning.