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Torah Portion

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Surmount Disappointment;
Turn Tragedy To Triumph

When we seek to comfort the
bereaved,
we suggest to them that
Shabbat Parah;
tomorrow may bring healing. To those
Sedrah Ki Tissa:
who endure pain, we offer the promise
that tomorrow will bring a measure of
Exodus 30:11-34:35;
relief. Moses taught his people and all
the
generations to follow that in tomor-
Numbers 19:1-22;
row lies the miracle and the mystery of
renewal.
Ezekiel 36.16-38.
But time does not heal all wounds
and cannot always produce the wonder
of transformation. Time alone does not
he figure of Moses never
resolve conflict.
looms as large as in this
The sedrah suggests an additional
week's sedrah (Torah portion).
dimension. In the discussion
We see the law-
between God and Moses,
giver standing on Mt. Sinai
God is angry with Israel with
bearing in his arms the tablets
its sinfulness and wants to
inscribed with the divine
destroy
the people. Moses
words.
does
not
deny the betrayal.
what
awaits
Moses?
He
But
The truth must be recog-
sees a rebellious, idolatrous,
nized. But he turns to God
frenzied mob, dancing around
and describes a love which He
a calf of gold, fashioned by his
had shown the Patriarchs, the
own brother.
founders of this people.
In this deeply tragic
Remember them and remem-
moment, his hands drop the
RABBI IRWIN ber how they loved You.
tablets, which suddenly
GRO NER
We may call this the strate-
become heavy and unbearable.
Specia 1 to the
gy of remembered love. One
He is heartbroken and out-
Jewish News
cannot pacify a person in the
raged. It is not only the tablets
hour of his anger. But when
that they have shattered. His
the
wrath
and
the frustration ebb, bitter-
hopes and dreams lie about him like
ness
may
be
softened
by reflection and
broken pieces of stone.
finally
overcome
by
remembered
love.
And then, Moses undergoes a trans-
Every powerful human linkage has,
formation, a turning point in his faith
in its beginning, a relationship of love
and leadership. He takes his staff and
and understanding. There is no chance
climbs Mt. Sinai a second time.
for rebuilding a broken home when
Undoubtedly, his heart is heavier, his
there was no love to begin with. One
spirits not as exuberant. Nevertheless, he
cannot restore a broken friendship when
returns to the summit of the mountain;
there never was any affection.
and after 40 days, he descends with the
But these qualities did exist. In mar-
second tablets in his hands, as true and
riage, there were moments of tenderness,
inspiring as the first. This is a moment
common hopes, mutual longing and
of singular victory.
deep comradeship. The way to find the
The text suggests one important and
path to reconciliation is to restore to
indispensable element: "And it came to
consciousness the tenderness, respect
pass on the morrow, that Moses said
and affection which we knew.
unto the people: 'You have sinned a
The cases are rare when husband and
great sin; and now I will go up unto the
wife,
children and parents, brothers, sis-
Lord, perhaps I shall make atonement
ters
and
friends cannot draw upon such
for your sins.'"
remembered love to sustain and
Time had intervened, in which to
strengthen the bonds that joined their
think, meditate, pray. When the night
lives. ❑
passed and morning came, Moses had
changed. He was more merciful and
understanding, more compassionate and
patient. He was prepared to try again
and to renew the covenant.
Elsewhere in the Torah we read
How can understanding help to
"Tomorrow God will work wonders
renew a relationship? What are
among you." Perhaps that text really
some ways that we get held back
means that there are wonders concealed
by recalling only the "broken
in tomorrow What has been shattered
pieces" of the past? How can we
today, can be restored tomorrow.
use happenings from the past to
strengthen future actions?
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of

T

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CORRECTION

The ad for Hillel Day School's Open House
(March 9, Page 1 7) listed last year's date.
The correct date for the Open House is
this Sunday, March 18, 2001.

3/16
2001

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