This week's Miller's Musings is sponsored by Family Ciffer to show Hakoras Hatov for the continued Refuah Sheleima of Avrohom Yaakov ben Soroh Tcharna and in honour of a new granddaughter to Chaya and Shlomy Graff
דבס''
MILLER’S MUSINGS
פרשת כי תשא
Living the Dream
This week’s Parsha is one of shattered dreams and missed opportunities. On the cusp of completing Hashem’s intention for the world and entering the stage of eternal reward, the Jewish people had elevated themselves to the supreme level of Odom in Gan Eden and only had to maintain that status to fulfil Hashem’s purpose, but it was not to be. The Jews commit the sin of the golden calf and the guilty three thousand transgressors are executed. But if there were only three thousand that actually succumbed to this temptation, why, when Moshe proclaimed “Whoever is to Hashem (let him come) to me”, did only the tribe of Levi approach him? Surely there were many others who should also have stepped forward?
After witnessing the miracles of their redemption from Egypt, the final, total annihilation of a civilization during the splitting of the sea and the mass revelation at Sinai, the real question is how any of that generation could have stooped so low as to pay homage to a molten image. So the fact that there were only a tiny minority should come as no surprise. However, says the Chidushei HaRim, what kept the rest from joining Moshe was not a lack of belief, but a lack of courage to step away from amongst the idolaters. They may have known what was right, but they did not possess the mettle that was needed at this time. They preferred to stand on the side-lines and stay out of the argument, as opposed to being party to what would be necessary to eradicate the evil from their midst. Only the Levites were willing to do what was needed for the honour of Hashem. Only they stood by Moshe’s side, sword in hand, ready to avenge Hashem’s name and restore the sanctity of the nation.
Knowing what is right and what must be done is by necessity the first step to doing what is right and must be done. Yet although it is a prerequisite, in isolation it is of little enduring worth. To live one’s life simply realizing what one should be achieving, is to live a life of unfulfilled promise and neglected potential. When we know the correct path we must take it. This is of course not easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is. But we must try, for there is no other route to accomplishing our goals. Whether it be on a personal level, where we must force ourselves to stop recognizing where we should be and start living there. Or whether it be part of our communal responsibility, where thoughts, ideals and words intended to improve lives is never enough without doing something to make them happen. We must start to actualize the way we want things to be for the betterment of ourselves, our families and the community in which we live. Don’t just think it, do it. Don’t just want it, make it happen.
*May the power of Shabbos push us to do whatever we must*
לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם
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