We live in a time of profound transition and change. Many of the things we took for granted are either in transition or being questioned. For those of us who grew up in an earlier era, it seems at times as if the ground beneath our feet is no longer stable. Whether climate change, our democratic system, a woman’s right to control her body, family structure, social institutions or even the weather. Nothing seems certain any more. Earlier ways of doing things often seem better because we are used to them, even when they cause suffering for others.
This week’s Torah portion shows us the Israelites in a time of profound transition. During this parsha both Miriam and Aaron die. According to the midrashic tradition, Miriam provided the Israelites with a well of water that followed them throughout their wanderings (Ta’anit 9a). Aaron, of course, mediated their relationship with God as the High Priest.
When Miriam dies the Israelites panic, wondering where their water will come from, now that she is dead. Moses consults God who commands him to order a rock to give water, but Moses flies into a rage, curses the Israelites and strikes the rock with his staff.
Why does Moses disobey God’s command and react so angrily? Perhaps it was his grief over Miriam’s (his sister) death. Perhaps it was his frustration at the Israelites’ ongoing lack of faith despite their ongoing experience of God’s grace and support. But regardless, Moses’ failure to fulfill God’s command and his ensuing rage led to the decree that he too would die in the wilderness and not enter the promised land.
The Buddha is attributed to have said, “In life, we cannot control the first arrow because it represents the unexpected conditions of life. But we can control how we respond to the second arrow, which is fuelled by our reaction and judgment.”
This week’s Torah portion supports this spiritual insight. It is easy, even perhaps natural, to become angry, or panicked, or hopeless in times of change. It is easy to blame others when we find ourselves in conflict, or our society in change. This week’s Torah portion teaches us that this is a dangerous way to be.
Openness and flexibility, combined with faith in God’s goodness (or whatever higher values you hold dear), is the path out of crises. The others lead to greater suffering.
Chukat, Numbers 19:1-22:1, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, July 9, 2022
July 8, 2022 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
We live in a time of profound transition and change. Many of the things we took for granted are either in transition or being questioned. For those of us who grew up in an earlier era, it seems at times as if the ground beneath our feet is no longer stable. Whether climate change, our democratic system, a woman’s right to control her body, family structure, social institutions or even the weather. Nothing seems certain any more. Earlier ways of doing things often seem better because we are used to them, even when they cause suffering for others.
This week’s Torah portion shows us the Israelites in a time of profound transition. During this parsha both Miriam and Aaron die. According to the midrashic tradition, Miriam provided the Israelites with a well of water that followed them throughout their wanderings (Ta’anit 9a). Aaron, of course, mediated their relationship with God as the High Priest.
When Miriam dies the Israelites panic, wondering where their water will come from, now that she is dead. Moses consults God who commands him to order a rock to give water, but Moses flies into a rage, curses the Israelites and strikes the rock with his staff.
Why does Moses disobey God’s command and react so angrily? Perhaps it was his grief over Miriam’s (his sister) death. Perhaps it was his frustration at the Israelites’ ongoing lack of faith despite their ongoing experience of God’s grace and support. But regardless, Moses’ failure to fulfill God’s command and his ensuing rage led to the decree that he too would die in the wilderness and not enter the promised land.
The Buddha is attributed to have said, “In life, we cannot control the first arrow because it represents the unexpected conditions of life. But we can control how we respond to the second arrow, which is fuelled by our reaction and judgment.”
This week’s Torah portion supports this spiritual insight. It is easy, even perhaps natural, to become angry, or panicked, or hopeless in times of change. It is easy to blame others when we find ourselves in conflict, or our society in change. This week’s Torah portion teaches us that this is a dangerous way to be.
Openness and flexibility, combined with faith in God’s goodness (or whatever higher values you hold dear), is the path out of crises. The others lead to greater suffering.