The Natalie & Manny Charach Religious School
Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses

5075 W. Maple

West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 851-6880

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7/3
998

Our eldest daughter Ariella was born
the very next year.
My intent here is not to write
about the declining Jewish birth rate,
however, but rather about hopeless-
ness. As a rabbi, I spend a great deal
of time trying to help people whose
situations seem hopeless to them.
Iff iriam, the sister of
Often, however, hopelessness itself is
Moses, has just died.
as much of an obstacle as is the actu-
Moses is stricken with
al challenge which faces them.
grief. Instead of com-
Hopelessness is paralyzing. To return
forting him, the people of Israel
to our Midrash for a moment, it is
approach him with yet another corn-
often hopelessness which prevents us
plaint. According to the Midrash,
from being fruitful in our
Moses replies bitterly, "Go
families and
work, in
away! Don't bother me with
in our relationships.
your petitions. My sister has
When I first came to
just died!"
Temple Israel, I was trying
Moses' grief is very great
to revive our social action
indeed, the Midrash
committee. I thought we
explains, for if it were not
should start simply, so I
for Miriam, Moses never
suggested holding a cloth-
would have come to be in
ing drive. Everyone was in
the first place. When the
agreement, until someone
Pharaoh issued the decree
mentioned that the real
RABBI
that all male children
problem
was not a lack of
PAUL YEDWAB
should be killed, Amram
but rather poverty
clothing,
Special to
and Yocheved, the parents
itself,
and
that perhaps we
The Jewish News
of Miriam and of Aaron,
should do something to
said: "What's the use of
attack the core issue
bringing children into this kind of
instead. Someone else suggested that
world? Why go through nine months
drug abuse is responsible for a great
of pregnancy, and then produce a
deal of the poverty in our communi-
child, just to have him snatched
ty and perhaps that should be our
away from us?" So they separated
focus. A third person blamed lax gun
from one another. Since they were
control laws for the ability of drug
leaders and role models, other people
dealers to dominate and terrorize
began to do the same. That is, until
their neighborhoods. "Speaking of
Miriam stood up and scolded her
weapons," another chimed in, "what
parents, saying, "Do you know that
about the real weapons, the nuclear
you are worse than Pharaoh? His
weapons that are aimed at all of our
decree may or may not be successful,
cities?" At which point we all threw
but yours surely will be!" Finally,
up our hands in despair. Since the
they gave in to her nagging, and that
world was going to be destroyed any-
is how Moses was born.
way, what was the use in having a
I must admit that I chuckled a bit
clothing drive?! The meeting ended
when I found this Midrash because it with no action being taken.
reminded me so much of a conversa-
In the Pirke Avot, Rabbi Tarfon
tion I had with my own father after
said, "It is not upon you to complete
my wife and I had been married for
the task, but neither are you free to
several years. Somehow, the conver-
refrain from it."
sation turned to children, and deli-
Things do go wrong in life. There
cately he inquired as to when we
were thinking of having some. "Well,
Dad," I replied, "you know how it is.
We are still trying to save up enough
Have you ever experienced a time
money so that we will be able to
when your outlook seemed hope-
afford children." With a wry smile
less? What was your response to
on his face my dad looked me in the
that moment? Could you have
eye and said. "Paul, if we had waited
responded more effectively to the
to have children until we could
challenge that faced you? How?
afford them, you would not exist!"
What would you do differently
the next time such a situation
Rabbi Paul Yedwab serves Temple
arises?
Israel in West Bloomfield.

Shabbat Hukkat:
Numbers 19:1-22:1;
Judges 11:1-33.

Blossoming school

Since
1986

TO11Wratirn—'—
To Maintain Hope
Is To Maintain Life

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