ha
TORAH PORTION
Center (?I Detroit
porium r,11 proceeds it, betulit flu-
Spiritual Fatigue
Shabbat Vaera:
Exodus 6:2-9:35;
Ezekiel 28:25-29:21.
futures. They're just worried about •
write to you from Israel, as I,
tomorrow.
together with several shul mem-
Rav Ya'akovson explained that
bers visit the Holy Land to cele-
Israelis today find themselves in the
brate the completion of a course of
same boat. While it's nice to think
study we have engaged in for several
. that separation from the Arabs and
years.
withdrawal will produce
• We had the pleasure of
some type of peace, we
visiting a yeshivah that I
know
from experience that
studied in called Sha'alvim,
withdrawal
only leads to
and we met with the head of
more
suffering.
Moreover,
the yeshivah, Rabbi
.
we
believe
that
the State of
Yechezkel Ya'akovson.
Israel
represents
a begin-
During our discussion,
reishit
tzemichat
geu-
ning:
the talk turned to Israeli
the
beginning
of
lateinu
—
politics and the shift to the
the flowering of the
middle by much of the
redemption. If we really
Ra bbi
Israeli public. Why the sud-
Reuven Spolter believed that every piece of
den shift? Rav Ya'akovson
Specia I to the land was holy and precious,
explained with a thought
Jewis h News we wouldn't be so willing to
from this week's Torah por-
part with it, at any price.
.
tion.
Yet, Israelis today are tired. They
The Torah tells us that God appears
don't want to hear about 'redemption
to Moshe with grand promises of
and a grand future. They want quiet
redemption, using the famous five
today, and they want it to remain
phrases of redemption that we allude
quiet tomorrow.
to in the seder: ve'hotzeiti — and I
To be honest, we in America cannot
will take them out; ve'hitzalti — and I
understand their suffering. While we
will save them; ve'gaalti — and I will
identify with them and share in their
redeem them; ve'lakachti L- and I
pain, they deal with the Katyushas
will take them; ve'heiveiti — and I
and bombings each and every day, not
will bring them.
us. And, while I believe that the State
Each term refers to a future bless-
of Israel does indeed represent that
ing that God promises to bestow on
first flowering of redemption, and I
his people: blessings of material
worry
about the decisions a powerful
wealth, spiritual well-being, freedom
Kadima
party will make; I cannot
and redemption. Yet, for all the prom-
question
their fatigue. I can only pray
ises, the Jewish people aren't interest-
for
their
safety,
security and prosperi-
ed. When Moshe relates God's prom-
ty
and
pray
that
God sends His
ises to the Jewish people, they refuse
redeemer to fulfill the promises that
to listen: "And they did not listen to
we know will come, one day soon.
Moshe from shortness of breath and
hard work." (6:9) Why couldn't they
listen?
Conversations:
While Moshe promises them great
How do we identify with the
things in the future, they had long
daily struggles of life in
before tired of the process. While
Israel? Do we have them in
objectively wealth and spirituality
our prayers? Do we make
and closeness to God are great, the
sure to buy Israeli produce
people are just too tired. They just
when those peppers show up
want to rest. So, they have no patience
in the store? What can we
to listen to grand plans and fantastic
I
•
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❑
.
Reuven Spolter is rabbi of Young Israel of
Oak Pafk.
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January 26 • 2006
1065280
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