Feature Tidbit Read a/the Good Book Lately? Some people (but definitely not all) can read a book and become part of the characters and action of which they are reading. They use their imaginations to bring the story alive, and make it personal. The story becomes more real to them; they can identify with what is happening. This ability will make reading more interesting and exciting for some readers, but that's about all. Not so when it comes to THE BOOK. Or as Tevye was fond of saying - the Good Book. When it comes to the Chumash, we cannot read it the way we read any other book. It is not a collection of Once-upon-a-time stories - it is our collective Jewish experience. At the Seder table, we read in the Hagada that in every generation, a person must see himself as if he came out of Egypt. We make a point of saying that G-d took US out of Egypt; because of this, G-d did to ME..., Had G-d not taken US out, etc. And we castigate the "wicked" child for not speaking in first person. In this week's Torah reading, we have the events that took place 6 and 7 weeks after leaving Egypt. In the third month to the exit of Bnei Yisrael from Egypt, on THIS day, they came to Midbar Sinai. Rashi's famous comment: On THIS day? If you are telling a story that happened more than 3300 years ago, you say, On THAT day. From here we learn that the experience at Sinai should be fresh in our eyes as if it happened today. We are not just reading about distant ancestors who had an unbelievable sense of unity - like one person with one heart - we must be those same people. We must try to recapture that original sense of common purpose and common bind that is vital to the survival and quality of life of the Jewish People. We must rededicate ourselves to Torah and a commitment to G-d and His mitzvot, His traits, and His ways. This can't happen it we just read the Book, if we just listen to it being read every Shabbat, Chag, and Monday & Thursday. Our learning of Torah must lead to our aspirations to be as hospitable as Avraham and Sara, as tenaciously faithful as Yosef HaTzadik, as enthusiastic in the pursuit of peace and harmony among us as Aharon HaKohen was, as protective of G-d's honor as Pinchas was. We must live the Torah, not just read it. This is/was the commitment of Naaseh V'Nishma. [The Yitro Homepage]
|
