17th of Tammuz Reflection: Please Go Easy... But Not TOO Easy

BS"D

In the light of the tragedies of the 17th of Tammuz, including Moshe's smashing of the first Luchos (Tablets) upon seeing the revelry about and worship of the Eigel haZahav (Golden Calf), we all feel broken in some way ourselves.  As we struggle through our formative hardships bestowed by Hashem, we turn to Him, the Aibeshter, and plead for mercy in our Galus (Exile), and guidance through our nisyonos (challenges). 

The selections for the Torah reading on this fast day, include the passage in which Hashem teaches Moshe the proper manner and performance of prayer, and passes onto His navi the entreaty that the Jewish People should recite in their trouble, that would never fail to invoke His great Rachmanus (compassion).  We know this tefillah as Shalosh-Esrei Middos Harachamim/The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.  Each attribute corresponds to a (sometimes slightly)different level of compassion, depending on who beseeches, and why.

After absorbing the powerful words, Moshe hastily prostrates himself and requests that Hashem restore His Presence to His People, "yailech-na Ado-nai b'kirbainu - let my Lord go among us."    There is something interesting to note about the usage of the name "Ado-nai, Lord":

The meforash (commentator) Or haChaim elaborates:  When Moses heard G-d pronounce this supplication for mercy, and understood G-d was going to be very forthcoming with His forgiveness, the leader actually feared that the Jewish People would receive so much beneficence and mercy, that they might fail to acknowledge their error and commit to change their ways!  Therefore, he addresses G-d in the following passage as "Ado-nai, Lord", connoting G-d's stricter side (like Elokim), so Hashem's guidance would be meted out in a balance of encouraging kindness and growth-promoting retribution.

This is so very instrumental to understand in our everyday lives.  We go though times of sorrow, challenge, fear, pain, confusion-- all kinds of personal dark, and we may feel that G-d is being cruel.  After all, isn't He Keil Rachamim, the G-d of Mercy?  That's true too.  Remember to always turn to G-d to beseech him for compassion and love in times of trouble.  But never forget to search for the voice of Hashem in your dark days too.  There is a message contained within that He wants You to discover.  All pain we go though is going to refine us to be the best we can be, like silver being melted down and enhanced in a crucible.  When you beseech G-d for help, as you struggle through life's challenges, don't forget...  This is G-d too.

Moshe was onto something...  Thank you Hashem for all of Your Divine Inspiration, Your Ruach haKodesh, that You have graced Your Nevi'im (Prophets) with, and what You may grant us to see in the dark.

Parshat Ki Sisa: We're All Miners

BH

Hello everyone, and Good Shabbos!

Who doesn’t find a gem beautiful?  Did you know that the Luchos (Tablets, on which the 10 Commandments were inscribed) were carved out of sapphire?

Sapphire is a precious stone, with a deep blue hue.  The Kohein Gadol’s Me’il (robe) had to be made from pure blue fabric.  What is the significance of blue, in such holy objects?

The commentator, Ha’Emek Davar, answers, that the color blue, signifies remembrance.  The Kohein Gadol’s garments were intended to evoke a zicharon, a remembrance, of Hashem.  This is also the case with the techeiles (a rare blue dye) in tzitzis, which is to make us remember Yetzias Mitzrayim.  The deep blue sapphire that the Luchos were made from, was meant to arouse our thoughts, to remember Hashem in Shamayim (blue, reflecting the heavens).

The fifth Aliyah (portion) of the parsha, begins as follows:

“Vayomer Hashem el-Moshe pasal-l’cha shnei-Luchos avanim karishonim v’chatavti al-haLuchos et-hadvarim asher hayu al-haLuchos harishonim asher shibarta – Hashem said to Moses, ‘Hew for yourself two stone Tablets like the first ones, and I shall inscribe on the Tablets the words that were on the first Tablets, which you shattered.'”

(Here, Hashem is commanding Moshe to carve out the sapphire needed to create the second set of tablets, to replace the original ones, which Moshe smashed upon seeing the Jewish People reveling around the Golden Calf, recounted earlier in the parsha (sorry for the spoiler!).)

The Midrash teaches, that Hashem directed Moshe to the supply of sapphire that the Luchos were to be formed from– a sapphire mine, right under Moshe’s tent!!!

Let’s take another look at the words “pasal-l’cha – hew for yourself”.

At first glance, we say that this just means that Hashem is charging Moshe with a mitzvah, a commandment, to fulfill this mission.  Moshe’s part in creating the second Tablets, is to carve out the stone.

But with the Midrash by our side again, we can look a little deeper.  The words “hew for yourself” have another interpretation– the spin is, “hew for yourself“, is literal!

Hashem told Moshe, that he could keep the spare sapphire chips for himself!  “And with these,” the Midrash continues, “Moshe became very wealthy.”

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A Mashal (parable) of my own:

Like Moshe, there is hidden treasure very close to us.  Sometimes, though, we just need Hashem to point it out to us.  These treasures are very precious.  They are our opportunities in life.

We all have so much potential, so much talent, so much to share with the world, to do one more mitzvah– with which we can serve Hashem.

But sometimes these chances to shine, share, or do the right thing, are obscured-- hidden by a mist of self-doubt, lack of self-confidence.  Sometimes in the way of our opportunities stands a wall, built from our own excuses.

We need Hashem’s help, in that case, to point the way for us, to make it through that fog.  How to be a light shining in the world, like a glittering jewel.  How we can hew the gems from our life, and serve Him with clarity and joy.

And how kind He is, that He allows us to gather up all the chances we can to do the right thing-- like the glittering sapphire chips-- and He allows us to reap the rich rewards of our efforts!

We are so wealthy!