Torah Portion/Synagogues

Risk-Taking As A Show Of Faith

Shabbat Bemidbar:
Numbers 1:1-4:20;
Hosea 2:1-22.

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rthodox Judaism is perceived
by much of the world as a
conservative, sheltered, old-
fashioned way of life, unwill-
ing to take risks in the face of new chal-
lenges, preferring to retreat into its own
shell like a turtle.
A Midrashic comment on this week's
portion stresses a genealogical aspect
concerning Nahshon, prince of the tribe
of Judah, which rejects the idea that a
conservative, risk-free existence are gen-
uine Torah values.
Nahshon is known to us as the coura-
geous individual who risked his life by
leaping into the Red Sea when the flee-
ing Israelites found themselves being
chased by the charioteers of Egypt;
indeed, it was only after Nahshon
demonstrated his fortitude and faith,
that the Almighty went the next step
and brought about the great miracle of

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Stone Institution and chief rabbi of
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CONSERVATIVE

ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE

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BETH ISRAEL (FLINT)

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the splitting of the sea.
act with courage, to make the first heroic
The Midrash points out that this
and even dangerous moves, which come
courageous Nahshon had four sons,
with independence and responsibility.
including Elimelech, husband of Naomi,
Because of Nahshon's faith and daring,
as well as Shalmon, father of Boaz, two
the people were saved. Nahshon and his
major personalities in the Scroll of Ruth,
followers risked their lives by jumping
which we read on Shavuot. Now we
into the raging waters; God then made a
don't usually think of Ruth as a "book of
miracle for him, the waters splitting into
risks;" but I would like to suggest that in
dry land and serving as a wall (homa) to
presenting such a genealogy, the Midrash
them on the right and the left.
wants to stress not only the
The rest of the Israelites
characteristics of risk-taking
only entered after the dry land
but also what kind of risks are
appeared; for them the waters
favored by the Torah and
became a wall — but this time
what kind are not.
written without the letter vav,
The Torah's fourth book
\Arhich can also spell hema,
records the history of the
which means anger.
Israelites' 40 years of wander-
While Nahshon is to be
ing in the desert. By the time
praised for his risk-taking,
the book closes, it is clear that
Elimelech can only be reviled
the Jewish people have failed
for his.
RABBI
their first major test. When
When a terrible famine
SHLOMO
the spies return with a fright-
descends upon Bethlehem in
ening report about the
RISKIN
Judah, the home of Elimelech,
Promised Land and the ability
Special to the
he packs up his family and
to conquer it (Numbers 13-
Jewish News
decides to start a new life in
14), the Hebrews demonstrate
the land of Moab.
a total lack of resolve, courage
Undoubtedly, this demon-
and faith. Apparently, they have become
strates courage on the part of Elimelech,
too accustomed to the safe and secure
the ability to risk the unknown in a
desert life to take the risks into the
strange environment
unknown involved in the conquest and
But his motivation was greed; he
settlement of Israel.
refused to share his bounty with his
But the Torah wants the Hebrews to
starving kinsmen, and he was willing to

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leave his homeland and his ancestral
roots for the sake of his wealth. Hence,
tragedy strikes.
Elimelech dies, and his sons — logi-
cally — marry Moabite women. His
progeny die as well, causing Elimelech to
have reaped as his harvest in Moab only
oblivion from a Jewish point of view.
In contrast, Boaz does not leave
Bethlehem during the famine. And
when the challenge arises to do an act of
lovingkindness for Naomi and redeem
Elimelech's land — as well as to marry
the convert Ruth — Boaz assumes the
financial obligation and takes upon him-
self the social risk involved in the mar-
riage. And the descendant from this
union turns out to be none other than
King David, from whom the future mes-
sianic line emerges.
Risk is positive and even mandatory,
from a Jewish perspective. The question
we have to ask ourselves is the motiva-
tion, and that determines the result. ❑

Conversations

Discuss some examples of courage
and risk taking, or lack thereof,
from both the Bible and from your
own experience. How does such
risk taking impact our lives?

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SYNAGOGUES

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2004

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