B orah Portion God Helps Those Who Help Themselves longer could the people be complete- ly passive and have God miraculously protect them from harm. They must learn to take some responsibility for themselves. The sojourn in the wilderness was to be their training ground for becoming independent and responsible — to live in the real world much as all children must learn to become independent of their par- his week's Torah portion ents. begins with the verse: Deuteronomy 8:5 states, "You "When Pharaoh sent this should know in your heart that just nation out, God did not as a person disciplines his child, so lead them through the land of the the Lord your God disciplines you." Philistines, which was close ... lest the And just as a parent must teach inde- nation reconsider when they see war pendence little by little from a con- and return to Egypt" (Exodus 13:17). text of trust and confidence In spite of all the suffer- in the aid of the parent, so ing, hardship and travail of was it with the Jewish peo- their lives in Egypt, as long ple in the wilderness. as the security inherent in Time and time again, slavery was an option for the whenever the people experi- people, the danger existed ence adversity, discomfort that they would give up or fear, they cry out against their newly won freedom Moses and God and threat- and return to Egypt. The en to return to the comfort- insecurity of a life of free- ing, if not comfortable, life RABBI E LIEZER dom and the discomfort of of slavery. Time and again CO HEN making their own decisions they test God's commit- Spec ial to were frightening prospects The Jew ish News ment to their welfare. for those who knew naught The manna itself, by its but slavery. This then was very nature, is an attempt the purpose of their sojourn to teach them trust in God and at the through the wilderness — to make same time they learn to become inde- them independent and capable of pendent. The manna, on the one establishing their own community in hand, was miraculous and continually the land of Israel. provided to them; but, on the other This difficult struggle for self- hand, they could not hoard it or even _.->reliance is repeatedly evident in the store it for the next day (except for Torah portion. When confronted Shabbat). They were provided for — with the pursuit of the Egyptian but only temporarily, both in the army, they cry out: "... are there not sense of each day's limit and only enough graves in Egypt that you took until they enter the land of Israel. us to die in the wilderness; what is Faith and trust in God cannot this that you have done to us to take simply mean an absolutely passive us from Egypt? Is this not as we said sense of "God's will be done," but to you in Egypt? Leave us alone that rather the sense that our active we may serve Egypt. It would be bet- attempt at survival and success may , ==cer for us than to die in the wilder- be helped along by God. ness" (Exodus 14:11-12). These were the lessons the Jewish Moses responds to this outburst by people had to learn before they were telling the people: "... do not be ready to enter the land of Israel and afraid; stand and see God's salvation establish their own community. Thus, ... God will fight for you and you when they displayed their lack of will remain silent." (Exodus 13:13- confidence in God and themselves 14). Even Moses expected God to with the acceptance of the negative save the people without any initiative report of the scouts (Numbers 13,14) on their part just as He had humbled and again threatened to return to ,Egypt with His plagues and had Egypt, God decreed that the genera- brought the people out of slavery. tion would never be able to enter the To this, God asks: "Why do you land. cry out to Me? Tell the children of For them, the generation of slaves, Israel to travel" (Exodus 14:16). No returning to Egypt always remained Shabbat Shira/Beshalach: Exodus 13:17-17•16• Judges 4:4-5:31. Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of Congregation Or Chadash. only their children, brought up in the wilderness and for whom Egypt was- n't "home," would be able to enter the land. In fact, from that point on in the Torah, in spite of many instances of complaints and trouble, not once do they say, "Let's go back to Egypt." Trust in God, but demonstrate independence and responsibility of action. This is the lesson of the gen- eration of the wilderness. ❑ Shir Tikvah Learning Service Chocolatier Fine Chocolates • Gift Baskets Gourmet Foods •Wedding/Shower Favors • Corporate Gifts • Nut, Cmdy & Frtit *Trays • Local & National Delver' , dentinelsig &maw,/ %imam 14/4, c Remeingev... , 248-624-8779 4827 Haggerty Rd. West Bloomfield in the Westwind Lake Village Shan Mon.— Sat. 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 (Wenteather Troy-based Congregation Shir Tikvah will host a learning Sabbath service 7:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Northminster Church. This service is in conjunction with the Detroit-wide Jewish community effort to Rekindle Shabbat. The fourth- sixth-grade Family Education students will assist Rabbi Sleutelberg in leading some of the prayers. Participants are welcome to attend an Oneg Shabbat (coffee and dessert buffet) after the service. For informa- tion, call the temple administrator, (248) 619-9669. tgreal droPeverr. Pholograph, Inc. Improve Hebrew Through Series 31543 W. 13 MILE RD. Temple Kol Ami will host a Tuesday lunch and learn series, "Vocabulary 101: Hebrew and Yiddish words you need to know to feel like a mayven," noon Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the temple. This informal session will be con- ducted by Elissa Berg, educational director. Students can register for the whole series (eight classes for $36) or drop in for $5 per session. Bring lunch; cold drinks and coffee will be provid- ed. Register by calling the education office, (248) 661-0040. HAIR SENSATION an option. 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