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Parashat BaMidbar “In the Desert”
May 18, 2023 / 27 Iyar 5783
Title: Recognition of Counting
By Jessica Herrmann, Director of Jewish Service Learning
We pick up with the Israelites continuing to wander in the wilderness towards the Promised Land as we open the fourth book of the Torah – Numbers (baMidbar). Moses is instructed by God to conduct a “census of the Israelites according to their families, according to their fathers’ household” (Numbers 1:2). On the surface, the census was taken to find out the number of eligible fighters, but perhaps there was another reason.
Counting every Israelite meant that everyone got at least a few moments to stand up and be recognized by others. Beyond meeting the human desire to feel seen, this interaction meant that everyone in the community connected with one another even for a moment. As Rabbi David Greenstein taught “mutual recognition is actually the surest foundation on which to build a community, for it is the most resilient.” The census was a tool to understand who made up the community, appreciate every member, and connect folks with one another.
How can you make each member of your community feel seen?
How can you strengthen your community by “counting” every member?
Parashat Nasso “Elevate”
June 1, 2023 / 12 Sivan 5783
Title: Because You Matter To Me
By Rachel Dubowe, West Coast JLS
In this week’s Torah portion, Nasso, we are introduced to The Priestly Blessing:
“The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell Aaron and his sons: Thus, shall you bless the Israelites. Say to them ‘May [God] bless you and protect you; May [God] make their face shine on you and be gracious to you; May [God] turn their face toward you and give you peace.’ Let them set My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”-Num. 6:23–27
This is one of our oldest prayer texts today - it’s said during weddings, on Shabbat, every morning in the land of Israel, and more. The blessing is simple and melodic with its three similarly structured verses that focus on our partnership with God. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks beautifully interprets the last verse to be about the human need of mattering, “The knowledge that God turns [their] face toward us – that we are not just an indiscernible face in a crowd, but that God relates to us in our uniqueness and singularity – is the most profound and ultimate source of peace.” We crave recognition and to be seen. No matter who or how we are, we are told that God’s face will turn towards us and bless us. Could you imagine if we knew this about our parents, family members, role models, mentors and more?
What would we do if we knew that no matter what, we mattered to our people that we cared about? And in turn, how would we treat other people if we constantly felt cared for?
Parashat BeHa’alotcha “When You Step Up”
June 8, 2023 / 19 Sivan 5783
Title: Lamp Lighters
By Rabbi Dave Yedid, Base Denver
In the second verse of our Parashah, Aaron is instructed:
בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹת אֶל־מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת׃
“When you go up to [light] the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” (Numbers 8:2)
The term “beha’alotcha,” the namesake of our Parashah, has the root aliyah, meaning “going up.” It can mean two things here: “when you go up to light,” or “when you cause the lights to rise.”
The two interpretations of this term hold a lesson in leadership. We can focus on a central leader stepping up to light the lamps, or we focus on allowing the lamp light to rise after they are lit. I believe this term can hold two truths, just as our leadership so often does.
As leaders, we are often the first to step up. We are the ones who enter the space and light the lamps (and the chairs! and the snacks!) so that other sacred tasks can take place—so that the lamps can shine their own light. Take a moment to consider the lamplighters in your life.
Who has lit a lamp for you?
In what ways do you ‘go up’ to light a lamp for others?
What does that light enable?
May we all merit to be lamplighters and may the lights we kindle bring more holiness and kindness into the world.
Parashat Sh’lach “Send”
June 15, 2023 / 26 Sivan 5783
Title: Close the Last Chapter to Begin the Next
By Rabbi Loren Berman, East Coast Jewish Life Specialist
It can be hard to enter the unknown, and start a new chapter in our lives, when we have yet to complete the last one. To start a new relationship while still attached to someone else, or to move to a new city or take a new job that will be good for us in the long term when our current one feels safe and familiar. This week’s parashah, Sh’lach, reminds us of this lesson.
Moses sends scouts to assess the Land of Israel, but their report back is not great. Most of the scouts say that “the land is flowing with milk and honey”, but that it is full of giants! “We looked like grasshoppers,” they said! How will we survive against such adversaries?
Perhaps what drove their hesitation to move forward was their attachment to the very imperfect, but still familiar experience they had back in Egypt. They lamented, “It would be better for us to go back to Egypt!" And in last week’s parashah, they waxed nostalgia on "the fish that we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.”
Sh’lach reminds us how hard it can be to gently close one chapter to begin another – but that it is nevertheless important to do so. Where in your lives would it be helpful to do the same?
Parashat Korach
June 23, 2023 / 3 Tammuz 5783
Title: Look In Before You Look Up
By Caleb Bromberg, Jewish Life Specialist
The Korach story (Numbers 16-17) is a famous one because it’s relatable. A guy named Korach stands up and says, “This is bogus! How come only Moses gets to talk for God? Every one of us is a person of God!” As punishment for this rebellion, Korach and all his supporters are killed by God.
On its face, Korach’s is a valid critique, and his punishment is extremely harsh. As such, numerous contemporary interpretations seek to rehabilitate Korach from mutinous villain to righteous critic of religious and social dogma. This runs against the grain of most traditional understandings of this episode, which see Korach as categorically wicked, seeking to usurp Moses’ and God’s power and authority.
Surprisingly, I think the traditional interpretation is more interesting. Korach is set up as a bad guy not because he questions authority, but because he is unwilling to accept responsibility and learn from mistakes. Instead of looking inward and holding himself and his community responsible for their errors, he shifts the blame elsewhere. While I certainly share Korach’s instinct to blame others for my woes, I try to let the text teach me that the first place I should look is inside myself.
Parashat Chukat (“Law Of”)-Balak
June 29, 2023 / 10 Tammuz 5783
Title: In Praise of Gentleness
By Emily Rogal, MHWOW Jewish Life Specialist
Parashat Chukat-Balak is a hot mess. The Israelites are continuing to wander aimlessly through the desert, and Miriam, Moses' sister, dies. Miriam was not just a source of wisdom to the Israelites, but the Gemara in Ta’anit teaches us that Miriam's Well - which kept the people hydrated during their wanderings - dried following her death. The people are thirsty and disoriented, hearts heavy with both their exhaustion and their yearning.
God tells Moses to stand in front of the people and speak to a rock, “[producing] water for them from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their beasts" (Numbers 20:8). Instead, Moses hits the rock, bringing forth water, but at a great cost - Moses will not be allowed in the Promised Land.
This is devastating, and slightly perplexing. Wasn't Moses God's favorite, like, five minutes ago? Why is this act what keeps him from entering the Promised Land? Perhaps this speaks to Moses' lack of gentleness. In striking the rock, Moses turns the natural world into an instrument to be wielded. He forgets to be gentle. I believe this asks us to consider the ways our own words/actions prevent us from being in connection with others, rather than sustain us.
How can you be gentle with yourself and others?
If you are in a place of spiritual thirst, what do you need right now?
Parashat Matot-Masei “Tribes-Travels”
July 13, 2023 / 24 Tammuz 5783
Title: Coming to Agreements
By Josh Neirman, Immersive Experiences Program Manager
Two of the tribes mentioned in Parashat Matot-Masei, Reuben and Gad, request from Moses specific grazing land east of the Jordan River. Initially, Moses is angered by this because other tribes are about to go to war while these two tribes are more concerned about the wellbeing of their individual families and animals than the larger family of the Israelites.
Eventually, a compromise is reached so that the tribes of Reuven and Gad receive the land they want and help rid the enemies of the Israelites. What caused this agreement to be met? The tribes realized that their initial offer was unfair to the rest of the tribes, and came up with an offer that would meet Moses and God halfway.
When have you proposed a solution to something that fell short, and you needed to go back to the drawing board?
What were the changes you made?
What did you learn about yourself and those that you were working with in order to come to an agreement?