Finding Our Humanity

January 25-26, 2013 / 15 Shevat 5773

Shabbat Beshalach & Tu B’Shvat Festival

Torah - Exodus 13:17-17:16 / Haftarah - Judges 4:4-5:31

“Finding Our Humanity”

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday I studied this week’s Torah portion with our wonderful 6^th and 7^th graders during Religious School.  I asked the students to come up with as many questions as possible about the Torah story, which includes the Exodus – leaving Egypt and crossing the Sea.  One of the questions that arose was simply, why do we call it the Red Sea, when the English translation we read called it the Reed Sea?  Which one is correct?

I have been thinking about this question and now understand that both are correct.  The Hebrew term for the body of water crossed by the Hebrews is Yaf Suf, which means literally a sea of reeds.  This is a swampy marshland with tall cane and grasses through which the Hebrews slogged.  There are a number of areas like this between Egypt and the Sinai desert.  So, ‘Reed Sea’ is technically the most literal translation.

How did we get Red Sea?  It appears that early translators for English editions of the Bible, particularly the King James version, simply dropped one of the ‘e’ letters and spelled reed as red.  That’s it.

However, ‘Red Sea’ can have meaning for us, too.  I asked the students what ‘red’ might mean to them.  One said, ‘blood,’  and suggested that maybe this was the place where Moses made the waters turn to blood, starting the first plague.  That answer led to another idea which twists the translations back on themselves.  The Hebrew word for red is adom.  The Hebrew word for human being is adam.  What can we learn from the similarities between the words adom (red) and adam (human)?  Perhaps, it was standing on the shore, blocked by the sea ahead and Pharaoh’s chariots behind, that the Israelites recognized for the first time that they were slaves no longer.  Instead, they were true human beings ready to demand and even fight for their birthright as free people.  It was at that moment that they knew that going to back to Egyptian slavery was not an option.  So, instead of Red Sea (adom), we might call it the Sea of Becoming Fully Human (adam). There was only one option for our ancestors, head forward through the reeds to freedom.

Adversity has a way of reminding us that we are human beings, free people.  That is the Jewish journey that began at the shores of the Sea – to remember our humanity and teach others to live lives of dignity, honesty, compassion, justice and love.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Change for Change

January 18-19, 2013 / 8 Shevat 5773

Shabbat Bo

Torah - Exodus 10:1-13:16 / Haftarah - Jeremiah 46:13-28

“Change for Change”

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion we read about the first Passover meal celebrated on the evening before the Exodus from Egypt.  On that night our ancestors sacrificed lambs and smeared the blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes.  They roasted the meat thoroughly and ate it quickly.  Each person had a walking staff in hand, sandals on feet and coat on in preparation for moving quickly when the time was right.  The Torah teaches that they shared their meals so that everyone, whether from a large or small family, whether wealthy or poor, could eat and partake of the celebration meal.  From this experience comes the line we recite in every Passover seder since that evening, “Let all who are hungry come and eat.”

That line went through my mind a few weeks ago in a Las Vegas parking lot.  I had just pulled in when a young man approached me for some spare change.  He told me that he and a friend had just been evicted from an apartment and that he was out of cash.  I could have given him a few dollars and wished him well, as I sometimes do when in a hurry.  Instead, I asked if he was hungry.  Indeed he was.  So, I took him into a Burger King and told him to order whatever he wanted, something for his friend, too.  I actually spent a lot more on the two meals than I ever would have, had I given him the change he orignially requested.  Now, he devoured a meal that would hold him for a few hours. “Let all who are hungry come and eat.”

Judaism is more than prayers and celebration at Shabbat and holiday time. It is more than Torah study and religious school.  Judaism is about taking all that spirituality and knowledge, then translating it into action.  We take it seriously when we call ourselves a ‘Light unto the Nations.’

When you see someone hungry, the Jewish thing to do is feed him, whether it is through buying a meal or supporting a food pantry.  When you see someone cold, the Jewish thing to do is find her warm clothing or shelter, whether it is through donating clothing and blankets or supporting a homeless shelter.  When you see someone in need, locally or globally, the Jewish thing to do is act.  When we are asked to give loose change, let our actions create real and lasting change.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

The True Qualities of Leadership

January 11-12, 2013 / 1 Shevat 5773

Shabbat Va’eira v’Rosh Hodesh

Torah - Exodus 6:2-9:35 / Haftarah – Isaiah 66:1-24

“The True Qualities of Leadership”

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion we learn about the true qualities of leadership.  Moses, our people’s greatest leader, was not always so popular or well regarded. At first God appeared to Moses to tell him that God would deliver the Children of Israel from Egypt.  But Moses refused the call and tried to get out of it, saying that he had poor speech and that Pharaoh would not listen to him.  Furthermore, Moses knew that the Israelites, broken in spirit, would never pay any attention to him, either.  Perhaps this is the first test which proved that Moses was well qualified.  He was humble and not full of himself or his own importance.

As it turns out, neither Pharaoh nor the Children of Israel would listen to Moses.  Aaron, his brother, would serve as his spokesman.  But Moses would not give up.  He pushed through with focused determination and saw to it that his people would follow him to freedom.  Yet, for forty years in the desert, the people complained constantly about his strong and commanding leadership.  Nevertheless, he sacrificed so much and got the job done.

What we learn is that the qualifications for inspired leadership are not based in a popularity contest, charisma or a great campaign ad.  Leadership is not about likeability or having an edgy soundbite.  Rather, leadership is about the qualities not seen on the surface.  Those qualities are intellect, compassion, determination, vision and humility.  Leadership can only be seen by looking deeply into a person’s soul and heart.

Whether in politics, business, study, family or amongst friends, look carefully at our leaders.  See into their hearts to understand the quality they bring into the world.  Look into their hearts.  Furthermore, as leader ourselves, our Jewish tradition teaches us to lead with integrity, kindness, determination and love.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow