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Quote of the Week: “In time of crisis people want to know that you care, more than they     care what you know.”

Miller’s Musings

פקודי- פרשת ויקהל

Know Way Back

Like all multi-faceted concepts, the Jewish people are referred to with many different names.  When Moshe assembles his brethren to him and transmits the word of Hashem, the Torah uses the appellation “עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל” “the congregation of the children of Yisroel”.  This is not the only time that this term is used and is in fact repeated later in the Parsha.  What we must ask is why here specifically, “congregation” was the appropriate title when in general simply ‘Children of Yisroel’ would almost always suffice?

Let us try for a moment to understand what must have been the emotional state of the Jewish people as they were gathered by Moshe to receive these instructions.  They had sinned, and had sinned in such a show of betrayal and infidelity that Hashem had considered annihilating them altogether and beginning anew.  Moshe intervened on their behalf and begged for their forgiveness and Hashem finally relented to his appeals.  Though we cannot begin to fathom how it was that they erred, we can surely assume that the feeling amongst the Jewish people must have been one of shame, the deepest regret and perhaps the sentiment of an inability to regain what they had lost.  A rift in their relationship with Hashem that could never be healed.  It was in truth a form of exile and the Nesivos Sholom explains, that at the heart of every exile is a removal of ‘דעת’ knowledge.  Knowledge of Hashem is the foundation of all that we are as Jews.  It is the link that binds us to Him and the source and catalyst for our spiritual elevation.  Without it we are lost in the dark.  With it we can find our way back from exile and bring about our salvation.  Moshe understood how his people were feeling and gave them now the mitzvah of Shabbos, to show them their way back to Hashem.  A mitzvah that asks us every week to know that Hashem created the world.  And this is alluded to in the word “עֲדַת”, congregation, and why it appears here, for it is a reconfiguration of the word “דעת”, their path to redemption. 

There is no one that can explain the reason for what we are seeing.  It is only Hashem that can provide those answers and one day He will.  But what is clear is that there has never been a time when Hashem’s absolute control of the world is so manifest and our total dependence on Him so patent.  We must use this time to work on that element of our exile that must be corrected and deepen and widen our knowledge of Him in our lives.  Remind ourselves constantly of His running of the world.  Daven with meaning and passion, focusing on what we are doing and Who we are talking to.  And endeavor to live with Hashem by our sides at all times.  There is no doubt that Hashem can change everything in the blink of an eye and remove this blight from our lives as quickly as it emerged.  Know it, feel it, believe it and live it and with Hashem’s help he will bring us back home to Him, where we belong, very, very soon.

*May Shabbos usher in a time of only joy, peace and blessings*

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Miller's Musings Parshas Ki Siso: Confused, Considered, Compassioned

בס''ד

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This week’s Miller’s Musings is sponsored by Max and Leah Cohen

Quote of the Week: “There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

MILLER’S MUSINGS

כי תשאפרשת 

Confused, Considered, Compassioned

There is no question that they had entered uncharted waters and were experiencing confusing times.  Hashem had appeared to them at Sinai, in a display of unparalleled connection with the Creator.  They had seen things that no mortal man had ever witnessed and were surely still reeling from these intense moments.  Then Moshe disappears back up the mountain and does not seem to have come back at the predetermined time for his return.  Added to this, the Soton confuses things further by showing them an image of Moshe’s coffin.  One can surely understand how perplexing and troubling this must have been for the Jewish people.  In view of this, were they truly to blame for making the wrong choices at that time and creating the golden calf?  Could they be held accountable when even their own eyes pointed towards an uncertain and potentially distressing future?

Trying to fathom the rationale behind the golden calf is something that has puzzled many of our great Sages.  Some explain it to have arisen from a desire to create some sort of connection with Hashem, now that Moshe was gone.  Not a betrayal of Hashem, but an unlicensed and illegitimate attempt at forming a substitute for their previous intermediary, Moshe.  Yet within their efforts we see something of their real motivations.  It was the nature of their conduct that betrayed their true, perhaps innermost motives, that were lacking. For if their actions were truly driven solely by being distraught at the news of Moshe’s demise, why did it lead to a celebration around their new link to Hashem, rather than a display of mourning for their loss.  Imagine for a moment Moshe’s perspective; understanding their behaviour as a response to his death and seeing the dancing and merriment that it produced.  Now, pause and marvel at Moshe’s reaction.  When he could have felt justifiably aggrieved, hurt and angry, he was instead the Jewish people’s greatest advocate and ultimately their savior when he could have left them to be eradicated by Hashem.  He understood his responsibility as a leader and did whatever was necessary, in an act of totally selfless concern for all others.  

We are undeniably ourselves facing a time of uncertainty and upheaval.  It has perhaps never been so clear Who is in control and Who decides our fate.  When world leaders seem to be somewhat fumbling in the dark and world powers are crumbling before our eyes, there is little we can do but place our trust in Hashem and try to be the best we can be.  But in addition to this, we must follow Moshe’s example and do whatever is best for each other, even if this may be at some personal loss.  We must take responsibility for our own actions and think how they will impact those around us, trying to do whatever we can to ensure all are safe as well as ourselves. It is not a time for panic, but a time for considered action.  And care for each other must be part of our equation at all times.  We would surely want that consideration from others.

*May Shabbos bring serenity, health and happiness, all under Hashem’s protection*

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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