From the Rabbi's Desk

This Shabbat, we’ll begin reading the fourth book of the Torah, Sefer Bamidbar which, depending on your translation of the Tanakh (bible), you'll see as "in the desert" or "in the wilderness". Our ancestors’ journey from the time they crossed the sea until they entered the land of Israel took 40 years. Yet according to Google maps, this journey, a walk from Cairo to Eilat, should only take 7 days.

The majority of the Bible is devoted to this period of time, so there are naturally a number of commentaries on the topic of why our ancestors took so long to arrive. The explanation I've heard the most is Moses simply kept walking in circles, loathe to ask for directions. While that explanation will elicit a chuckle or two and many eye rolls, I believe the willingness, or lack thereof, to seek advice and change direction is an integral part of why our ancestors had to linger in the desert/wilderness for so long. 

Growing up under the harsh conditions of enslavement like those leaving Egypt did, it’s challenging, if not near impossible, to imagine any other life for yourself. Hence, when the Israelites were approaching the Red Sea and saw the Egyptian army closing in on them, they naturally complained to Moses, stating they could have simply perished in Egypt. They couldn't see anything different for themselves or their descendants; they were simply too set in their ways. 

Their children, on the other hand, who came of age following the exodus from Egypt, grew up with the notion of individual choice and self-selection. They knew that perceived impossible tasks, such as the Israelites conquering the land of Israel, were indeed possible with God's help. They knew of the miracles God had performed, both the plagues in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, and they formed a different mentality than the generation that preceded them. This new generation, ultimately headed by Joshua as they entered Israel, truly believed anything and everything was within their grasp as long as they followed God’s commandments and God was on their side.

So how does this relate to our world today? All too often I hear “we’ve always done it this way”, or, “that’s just how it’s done”. There are times I find myself saying that too, at OVS where we have a beautiful 100+ year old tradition as our foundation, or at home with my kids when they ask why they have to get dressed before leaving the house. While sometimes there are good reasons for keeping the status quo, in order to grow and be the best people we can be, we must constantly question, and when appropriate, change how things are done. “We’ve always done it this way” isn’t a sufficient answer.

As we approach Shavuot this coming week, our annual celebration of receiving the Torah, of receiving God’s wisdom, ask yourself “what assumptions should I be questioning to improve our world? What can I change to improve our community?” It’s only through our annual shift in perspective, our coming out of the wilderness into the land, that we’ll achieve success, both for ourselves and for our community as a whole.