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Smith Mediation Center

Divorce Mediaton

Getting To
Know God

Parshat Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23;
Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-9:6

Sunrise at Sinai.

O

ne of the greatest contribu-
Beginning of Existence, for it was God
tions of the Bible to the
at the beginning of time that created
development of human life is this entire universe.
found in this week’s Torah portion —
Finally, by identifying as Anochee,
the 10 Commandments. And yet, they
a name that was used by God when
don’t really begin with a command-
speaking to both Abraham and to
ment.
Moses, as Rabbi Wayne
Thunder and lighting, a
Dosick points out in his book
dense cloud and the sounds
The Real Name of God, we
of a blaring horn — that was
realize that we are meeting
enough to make both the peo-
this very same Divine Source,
ple and the mountain tremble.
and we should not think there
But then, midrash tells us,
is any other God, though
there was the deep quiet from
other names may have been
which the “still small voice”
mentioned earlier in the
emerged and was heard by
Torah.
Rabbi Dorit
everyone present.
Then the words change
Edut
What we now call “the First
from the singular to the plural
Commandment” begins with “— I
form in describing the act that has
(Anochee) am the Lord (Adonai) your
created a relationship between God
God (Eloheycha). “There is no verb
and us as a people: “Who brought you
here other than that of an understood
(etchem) out of the land of Egypt, from
form of “to be,” which doesn’t exist in
out of the house of bondage.”
the present tense in Hebrew. There is
Yes, there were amazing forces of
no urging of any action or refraining
nature harnessed to accomplish this,
from any action.
but it was God who cares about us also
Instead, we have a personal intro-
as a people, who has seen our suffering
duction, addressed to each individual
and repeatedly intervenes in history to
in the form of the singular “your”
save us, who gives us another chance
— assuming an intimate relationship
to live freely, to be a living testimony
exists. The speaker uses the name
to Divine miracles even in our times.
“Anochee” — a form of the Hebrew
Why did God begin the
word “Ani” meaning “I”. In this way,
Commandments this way? The
we, the listeners of many generations
midrash of Exodus Rabbah 29:1 says
past and present, feel a sense of reas-
that it was to personalize the relation-
surance in this wilderness of life, even
ship with Israel and to remind us of
as we search deeply for meaning in our our obligation to God.
existence.
Having expressed the love, caring
If we listen even more closely to
and faithfulness for us, both as indi-
these introductory words, as did our
vidual human beings and as members
great sages Moses Maimonides and
of the Jewish people, God expects that
Jacob Sforno, we hear several deeper
we will readily listen and follow what
messages: God is the One and Only
will be asked of us next.
God — for us and for all the universe;
It is up to us to answer this call and
God is the Source of All Reality, giv-
cherish this relationship.
ing us not only our life but our abil-
Rabbi Dorit Edut teaches in the Detroit area and
ity to think, feel, move, touch, taste,
leads the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network.
smell, see and hear; and, God is the

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Conversations

• Why is it important to establish a connection or relationship with someone
before you ask them to do something for you?
• Where do you think in our days God has intervened to help the Jewish people?
• How has the message of One God for the whole universe impacted our relation-
ship with other peoples and their relationship with us?

M

ediation is an alternative that can help you retain more
time, money, and privacy during your legal battle.
Barbara Smith, J.D., former district court magistrate
and administrative law judge with more than 25 years of legal
experience, lends her unique blend of reason, calmness and
tenacity to the process, helping guide opposing parties to mutually
agreeable solutions. She has successfully mediated hundreds of
cases over the past decade.

Bloomfi eld Hills | 248.646.8000

www.michigan-divorce-mediation.com

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January 28 • 2016

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