Shabbat Commentary - Be-Midbar

We have just studied Sefer Va-Yikra (the Book of Leviticus) whose ten Portions centered on God's commandments (through Moses) to the children of Israel and their priestly leaders. The children of Israel have been camped at the base of Mount Sinai, but are now about to set out on their demanding journey to the land which God has promised them.

This week's Torah Portion, Be-Midbar, is the first Portion of Sefer Be-Midbar known in English as the Book of Numbers. The Portion, Be-Midbar mainly describes God's commandments to Moses and Aaron to count the males, 20 years of age and older, in each of the tribal groups representing the descendants of Jacob's twelve sons. "Counting" and "numbers" are commentary themes which come quickly to mind.
Counting and numbers figure prominently in our daily experiences and give rise to such expressions as: "count in," "count out," "count on," "count for," "count as," "count down," "head count," "down for the count," and "count your blessings."
"Number one," "wrong number," "lucky number," "number's up," "pick a number," "do a number on," "got your number," and "paint by numbers" are also frequently heard.

Anyone of these expressions could serve as the starting point for commentary on Be-Midbar. You're welcome to use them in crafting your own personal interpretation of this Portion.
However, in my case, two recent experiences led me to consider the Hebrew name of the Portion and of the fourth Book of Torah - Be-Midbar , "in the wilderness."
First, a few days ago, I attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor - a ceremony held to recognize those who have achieved scouting's highest rank, Eagle Scout. As part of the ceremony, Scout leaders from the community and the new Eagle Scouts, themselves, shared "Scouting Remembrances," recalling scouting activities which had been part of the journey from first grade Tiger Cub to twelfth grade Eagle Scout. Again and again there were references to wilderness experiences - hiking, camping, backpacking trips, mountain climbing, river rafting, and ocean snorkeling. The speakers emphasized how these challenging wilderness experiences had built character; had provided opportunities for Scouts to develop and demonstrate leadership, courage, endurance, responsibility, and concern for fellow Scouts.

A high point of the Court of Honor came when the Eagle Scouts were awarded medals signifying their accomplishment. The medals were inscribed with the Scout motto, "Be Prepared."

In the days following the Court of Honor, I happened to be in the education office of our synagogue and picked up several brochures detailing a variety of Jewish summer camping programs. The brochures vividly described the camp settings - in forests, high in the mountains, near lakes and streams. In these wilderness settings, the brochures proclaimed, campers would "enhance leadership skills," "build strong Jewish identity," "live Jewish values" in "a community of living Judaism..."

For the children of Israel, for Scouts, and for Jewish campers, the wilderness, the Midbar, is a place to learn and grow, to gain strength, wisdom, and confidence as individuals and as members of a community.

In Sefer Va-Yikra, the children of Israel have received God's commandments and laws which guide every aspect of their personal and communal lives.
In the Portion Be-Midbar, God assembles and organizes the vast numbers of the children of Israel. God assigns tasks related to the travelling Mishkan (tabernacle) to the tribe of Levi and places the other tribes in specific protective locations around the Mishkan.
As they leave Mount Sinai for their challenging journey through the wilderness, the Torah teaches us that God wants the children of Israel to "Be Prepared."
God does not ask the children of Israel to recite an oath before their journey. Their actions will reveal their commitment to God's commandments. But if there were such a statement of dedication, it might resemble the Scout Oath:
"On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically fit, mentally awake, and morally straight."

For us, as for our ancestors the children of Israel, there will always be journeys. There will always be wilderness to cross. And as for God's guidance and protection on our way to the Promised Land - we can count on it!

Shabbat Shalom - Rest and Renew

Shabbat Commentary - Be-Chukkotai

If there were a theme song to accompany this week's Torah Portion, Be-Chukkotai, it would be the classic Commencement processional, "Pomp and Circumstance." We are in the midst of graduation season for everyone from pre-schoolers moving up to kindergarten to adult scholars receiving advanced degrees. Where there are graduation ceremonies, there are sure to be honored dignitaries giving commencement addresses.

As the metaphorical "honored dignitary" in Be-Chukkotai, God, through Moses, gives a "commencement speech" to the "graduates," the children of Israel. The children of Israel (and we who are their spiritual descendants) are graduating from being a frightened, distrustful pack of runaway slave families to a nation in progress. The evolving Jewish nation is bound to God by the Covenant; shaped by God's commandments in God's image; and strengthened by the shared experience of surviving and thriving in the wilderness while behaving according to God's laws.

As the assembled community is about to move on in its journey to the land which God has promised, God powerfully enumerates the Blessings which will come from following the commandments which God has taught in Sefer (the Book of) Va-Yikra. These Blessings include bountiful crops, peace, security, victory over enemies, and God's protective presence.
"...and I shall put my Tabernacle among you and my soul will not scorn you, and I shall walk among you, and I shall be God to you, and you will be a people to me." (Leviticus 26:11-12)*

After reminding the children of Israel that God freed them from slavery in Egypt, God warns of fearful "curses" which will befall them if they fail to follow all of God's commandments. If one set of curses fails to make the children of Israel "listen" to God, then even more horrendous curses will follow.
However, in conclusion, God promises that if the children of Israel recognize their wrongdoing and repent, God will continue the Covenant with them.

One can almost see the "graduates" take a deep breath after experiencing the intensity of God's message - and then burst into applause and give the Speaker a standing ovation!
In the graduating community of the children of Israel, great leaders, earnest followers, and even those apt to be led astray stand tall, proud to be God's people, ready to apply God's teachings as they continue their journey toward nationhood.

We, too, inspired by God's words, continue our journey as we conclude this year's study of Sefer Va-Yikra and commence our reading of Sefer Be-Midbar.
Chazak! Chazak! V'Nitchazeik!
From strength to strength...
Shabbat Shalom Rest and Renew

*From: Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman

Shalom Kitah Gimel Students and Families #26

The year has flown by! Here we are on the final day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and the last day of Hebrew class.

Together we recited the Blessing for Torah Study.
Students took turns asking and anwering the questions in the attendance conversation - all by heart.

We had an abundance of special treats for our Last Day party and recited several Blessings over the different types of food we were enjoying.
(Thank you to those families who kindly provided delicious snacks.)

Torah Study
We reviewed the main points in the seven Portions of the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) which we've studied together. Students remembered an impressive amount of information about these Portions. In this week's Portion, Emor, God commands us to observe Shabbat, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. We discussed the question, "Why does God command us to observe Holidays?" Students suggested that we connect with God through the "Holy Days" which God has chosen for us; that Holidays help us remember and honor the past; that Holidays teach us and give us occasions for joyful celebration. Insightful ideas!

In the midst of our "Happy Last Day" events, we paused to recognize that Sunday was Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), a time when we are urged to zacor (remember) the millions whose lives were destroyed. One student shared that Yom HaShoah inspired her to learn more about the experiences of her grandparents who were Holocaust survivors.

Modern Hebrew Language
To review Hebrew vocabulary and events and figures from the Torah Portions we've studied, we played Zingo. Zingo is similar to Bingo, except that questions and answers are used instead of letters and numbers. Last week, students had prepared some of the Zingo questions and answers themselves. Students were enthusiastic players. Everyone was eventually a winner and received a Twizzler prize.
One of the Zingo words was p'rachim (flowers) - a perfect opportunity to thank the class for the beautiful vase of flowers which greeted me when I entered the classroom.

Following Zingo, each student received a slip of paper with a Hebrew word on it. They were directed to figure out what the word was and to find an object on the classroom walls which related to the word. After a few attempts to sound out the unfamiliar words with few vowels, students discovered that the words were the names of American cities on a Hebrew language map of the USA which the Cantor had lent to the class. This was our first acquaintance with the category of Hebrew words which spell out foreign words in Hebrew letters.

With their attention already focused on the wall displays, students worked in groups to find items on the walls which matched descriptions on a Classroom Scavenger Hunt sheet. An intensive search revealed all of the items. Students now know such intriguing facts as: The Hebrew letter dalet evolved from a fish symbol and the three languages on an Israeli ten shekel coin are Hebrew, English, and Arabic.

After a few energetic rounds of Shimon Omer (Simon Says), and several last handfuls of snacks, it was time to say "Shalom" to a great year of Hebrew School and to look forward to Machon in the fall.

Thank you for the privilege of teaching our students. I've enjoyed watching them learn and grow and wish them success and satisfaction as they continue on their Jewish journey.
From strength to strength!
Have a terrific summer.
B'shalom,
Morah Ronni