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Torah Portion

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To Live As A Jew
In The Face Of Death

Isaac, Jacob and Moses then wept with
such pain and sorrow that they awak-
ened Rachel, who leaped out from her
grave and spoke to God forcefully.
"Master of the universe, You must
remember the great sacrifices I made for
my sister Leah; Jacob loved me and
worked for me for seven years; yet I
he portiop Devarim, begin-
allowed her to marry him in my stead ...
ning the fifth and final book
and this is my reward? This is how You
of the Torah, is inevitably
treat my descendants?"
read on the Shabbat preced-
The midrash recounts God relenting
ing Tisha B'Av, the commemoration of
and
accepting Rachel's plea. For your
the Temple's destruction.
Rachel, I will return your chil-
sake, Rachel,
Similarly, the haftorah we study
dren." This is why it is writ-
derives from the prophet
ten in Jeremiah:"A voice is
Isaiah, the first word of which,
heard on high, (it is) Rachel
chazon, gives an added name
weeping
for her children,
to this sad Shabbat.
refusing
to
be comforted."
One of the most beautiful
What
did
the
sages hope to
and insightful midrashim con-
teach
us
with
this
story?
nected to this time teaches a
In their interpretation,
vital lesson, even for our day.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and
As the Temple and Holy City
Moses were all prepared and
burned in flames, the prophet
willing to die for their belief
Jeremiah hurried to the graves
RABBI
in the Almighty. Only Rachel
of the patriarchs. He even
NORMAN
T.
was
prepared to live with the
sought out the spirit of Moses
ROMAN
consequences
of her faith. It
(whose gravesite is unknown,
Special
to
the
is,
of
course,
the
ultimate
according to tradition), sum-
Jewish News
decision to die for one's
moning them all to wake from
beliefs; but it is, frankly,
their rest and to come to the
much more difficult and painful to live
aid of the Jewish people, "Weep for
each day with moral decisions we must
them; pray for them; plead with God
make, justify and support.
for them!" Jeremiah begged.
There is frequent pain and loneliness
In the midrashic legend, each of the
in
doing
what is right. The midrash
leaders then cried out to God, in sinceri-
praises Rachel for giving away her hus-
ty and sympathy. Abraham reminded
band to her sister; she would have to live
the Almighty of his faithfulness, even to
with that decision for the rest of her life.
the point of preparing to sacrifice his
God, in mercy, saw her sacrifice as being
son Isaac. Will You not remember me
greater than the others who pleaded for
for this, 0 God, and will You not have
the Jewish people; her prayers were
pity on my descendants?"
answered and we were promised a return
Isaac joined in the prayer with his
to Zion.
father, reminding God of his own will-
Rachel teaches us that it is not
ingness to be slaughtered. "Will You not
enough to die as a Jew; we must live as
remember me for this, 0 God, and will
being accountable for our Jewish
You not have pity on my descendants?"
J
actions and decisions, day by day. fl
Jacob cried out, "God, didn't I work
for Laban for more years than I planned;
and then when I finally left for home,
did I not face up to my brother Esau
who was prepared to kill me and my
children? Will You not have mercy on
my descendants?"
Can you think of decisions you
Even Moses pleaded with God: "I led
made this week which will have
Your people for 40 years in the wilder-
consequences for you and others
ness; yet when they entered the
for the rest of your lives? Jewish
promised land, I had to stay behind and
tradition speaks of z'chut avot
die in the desert. Must I now be witness
the merits of our ancestors, a
to their pain and sorrow?"
legacy of heritage; what do our
Yet, despite these fervent prayers, the
children and grandchildren learn
heavenly voice replied, "It is still My
from the decisions we make?
decree, and it will not be changed.
Which of your life choices bring
Jerusalem will be destroyed." Abraham,
you the greatest pride? Which
brings the most sorrow?
Norman T. Roman is rabbi of Temple
s.ziawATKORENVM.MOMKNOMMONS:
Kol Ami.

Shabbat Chazon:
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22;
Isaiah 1:1-27.

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