SHABBAT SHALOM -- SHEMOT -- PARIS IS BURNING As we immerse again in the Book of Exodus, we realize that the world quickly changes -- that what once was taken for granted and seemed secure is now yesterdays news. There is a Pharaoh that does not know Joseph -- whether or not the Egyptian king is cognizant of the dedicated ways in which Joseph served the interests of the state, or whether he willfully chooses to ignore them -- based on his outsized fears, in the Pharaohs narrow space, the Jewish people are in trouble. Today, we are receiving this Torah when all of the shops in the Jewish neighborhood in central Paris have been ordered closed, for safety reasons, after attacks of terror and bloodshed. We acutely witness the fragmentation of people, and the swift meltdown of society -- the smell of fear and of mistrust across the world is almost palpable. At home, we look to check on our deeply prized ideas of Liberte, Egailite, and Fraternite, with a bit of dread -- how unassailable are these principles in our society -- how fast can they hold? We cry out to God to remember us -- to see our plight and to have mercy on us. We ask that others be instilled with a compassionate heart, and that needless suffering be eliminated. We get involved in our world, raising up more like Joseph who can balance firm commitments to tradition and to realpolitik. We need neither go gently nor successively into slavery -- as we continue to cultivate courage and discernment as we step gently over the wickedness causing brokenness. In the preciousness of our lives, let us continue to offer new installments of practical blessing, to douse the furious fires and to rouse healing hearts. As we enter Shabbat, we find inspiration from a version of Psalm 121, which reminds us to lift our eyes beyond what we currently see, passionately sung by Yosef Karduner, a beautiful old/new voice -- https://youtube/watch?v=9fNpErJ_C5k Shabbat Shalom. #shemot #exodus #shabbatshalom
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:13:40 +0000
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