Miller's Musings Parshas Shemos: Beginning From The End

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This week’s Miller’s Musings is sponsored לעילוי נשמת   לאה בת אברהם ולרפואה שלמה מאיר נתן בן דבורה יונתן בן מרים

Quote of the Week: “Sometimes G-d will let you hit rock bottom so that you will discover that He is the Rock at the bottom.”

Miller’s Musings

שמותפרשת  

Beginning From The End

It is perhaps one of the most iconic scenes depicted in the Torah.  Certainly in the life of Moshe, the foremost leader of the Jewish people.  It is where it all began, at that burning bush.  Where Hashem first transmits to Moshe the destiny that lies ahead for him.  But what did it all mean?  Why was this vision the one that was chosen to divert Moshe’s attention and bring him to hear the message of Hashem?  It is undoubtedly a wondrous image, to see a bush on fire and yet not be consumed.  But there is surely some hidden, more profound message, depicted by this miracle.

It is well-known that the Jewish people in Egypt had sunk to almost unascendable depths.  One more step towards impurity, would have meant it would have been impossible to rise again or be redeemed.  Their eventual emancipation from slavery, was not due to their own merit, for they were seemingly lacking almost any.  So why did Hashem leave it this long?  Why did He leave it until the last minute and have to do so in a tremendous rush so as to prevent the spiritual annihilation that may have been only moments away?  The answer, says the Nesivos Sholom, can be understood by viewing a seed planted in the earth.  It is only when the seed has seemingly completely decomposed and at a point where only the barest minimum of its structure remains, then, and only then, does the seed begin to sprout and the plant begin to grow.   It was the Jewish people at that point, where nothing was left but the tiniest vestige of spiritual life-force.  That was the most perfect time for their rebirth to begin.  And this was the message conveyed to Moshe.  That no matter how much the Jews were engulfed by the flames of the Egyptian contagion of decadence and depravity, they were never entirely devoured by it.  They somehow maintained that tiny spark of faith and connection that kept them alive and allowed for their resurrection.

We try to have trust in Hashem and maintain our belief, no matter how desperate the situation or challenging the ordeal.  But there can be times when we simply fail to see where the light may come from.  The situation seems calamitous and there are no obvious solutions nor positives to be taken.  It is at these moments that we must consider the idea we have discussed.  That just when we think we are about to lose it all, and just when we think there is no hope for salvation, it is precisely then that we will begin to see Hashem’s hand and then that a new dawn may rise for us.  That which seemed a disaster may well transpire to be the best thing that has ever happened to us and that which appeared awful may instigate the emergence of something that will change your life for the better.  It is the faithfulness to Hashem’s ultimate good that is the spark that is never extinguished and always gives us hope for redemption.  It is this that will ultimately bring about our salvation. 

*May Shabbos bring us total clarity of the perfection of where we are*

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Miller's Musings Parshas Vayigash: In Total Control

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This week’s Miller’s Musings is sponsored לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם

Quote of the Week: “Strength is built upon inner character. Character is built upon inner strength.”

Miller’s Musings

ויגש פרשת

In Total Control

Yosef is sending a message to his father for the first time in over twenty years.  There must have been so much that he wanted to say.  So much that he wanted to tell him including everything that had occurred.  But surely most importantly would be to let him know that he had not strayed from his father’s teachings.  He had not left the path that Yaakov had set out for him.  This is surely what would have concerned his father the most and therefore the primary communication he would want to pass on.  And yet we see the one thing he asks for his brothers to tell him is of his success in Egypt and his position as the “ruler over all the land of Egypt.”  Why?  Could he possibly have thought that this would impress a man of Yaakov’s spiritual heights? What did he hope to convey?

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Yosef certainly impressed Paroah with his dream interpretation, not only making sense but in the way it all resonated with Paroah as the absolute truth. But Paraoh had surely met wise men before who would have shown great wisdom during his reign. So what was it about Yosef that made him not only assign him as overseer of the food supply during the years of plenty and famine, but also as the second-in-command for his entire kingdom?  Although there are many traits that one may look for in a leader of people the Sifsei Chaim says that the one universal mark of a great ruler is one who is able to conquer their own selves.  A person that is in total control of their own desires and personality has the strength and power to lead judiciously and discerningly.  Such a person will not let pride destroy them nor jealousy dissuade them from treating others correctly.  They will not allow anger to obscure their rational thought nor desire distort what they know to be right.  This is what Paroah saw in Yosef when he refused to take credit for the elucidation of the dreams, despite the potential of tremendous reward and favour from the king. When he prefaced his explanation, saying his abilities stemmed only from Hashem, Paraoh saw that Yosef was in absolute control of himself and was therefore worthy of a place by his side.  This was what Yosef was telling his father. I have not let you down. I have clung fast to your principles and maintained my dominance over my baser instincts and the proof is that I, a slave, have been elevated to rule over Egypt.  Only a person adhering to these ideals could have ascended in this way.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

There is a certain irony to the fact that many people claim to refuse to be slaves to religion, yet are more than happy to be slaves to mass media, culture or, worst of all, their own visceral desires.  Someone who is unable to control what they look at, consume, talk about or think of, are surely showing a weakness of character that must at least be acknowledged, if not remedied.  Who are we if we do not display at the minimum some capacity to restrict ourselves and regulate these areas of our life? What type of person have we become if life is lived without boundaries or limits and we cannot at times exercise restraint rather than indulgence? If we aspire to be leaders of others we must start by being rulers of ourselves.

*May the power of Shabbos give us the power we need to gain control of ourselves*

If you would like to sponsor a week of Miller’s Musings l’ilui nishmas someone, for a Refuah Sheleima or to celebrate a Simcha please send a message to millersmusingsrabbi@gmail.com or to 07531322970