From the Rabbi’s Desk
Rabbi Manes Kogan
Masei
(July 29, 2000)
"These are the journeys of the Children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt according to their legions, under the hand of Moses and Aaron: Moses wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of Hashem, and these were their journeys according to their goings forth" (Numbers 33:1-2)
"Moses wrote... at the bidding of Hashem" (Numbers 33:2). Immediately after the Exodus, God instructed Moses to keep a "diary" of the journeys as they occurred, and now, at the end of the forty years, told him that his record was to become part of the Torah (Or HaChaim).
"Their goings forth according to their journeys" (Numbers 33:2). At the end of the verse, this same idea is repeated, but with the order of words reversed: their journeys according to their goings forth. The first phrase expresses how God regarded their travels, while the second phrase looks at it from the people's point of view. Whenever God ordered them to go forth, He did so because He wanted them to progress to the next step in His plan, to journey toward the destiny He had planned for them. But the people saw things differently. Since it is human nature to be impatient with the status quo and to look for new adventures, whenever they tarried at a camp for a while, they became dissatisfied. When the time came for them to journey, they rejoiced simply because they were going forth, because they were leaving a place that had grown tiresome, and not because they were thinking of their long-term goal. Their purpose was not the destination, but the journey (R' Hirsch).
Which Jew has not experienced many wanderings in his existence? But whatever the disappointments already encountered, we must always go forward. Future redemption for each individual, as for the nation, beckons us to rise to the next challenge (R' Munk).
The Journey – to see a plan in our journeys.
A religious perspective: Why am I here? What does God want from me at this point of my life? Why am I stopping for so long at this point? Why I keep wandering from one place to the other?
Is there anything I can do to be in charge of my situation? How can I take advantage of my destiny?
Meg’s Bat Mitzvah, Shabbat Beshalach, January 31 1999.
To stop to sing, to celebrate, even the journey is still long ahead.
I believe the same today, two years after our arrival. There are a lot of reason to celebrate.
Personal blessings
Family blessings
The blessing of keeping old friends and making new ones.
The blessing of having family and friends far away and yet close to us.
The blessing of a special congregation and a blessing of being satisfied with our own work.
The blessing of the spiritual growth I see here, among us. The blessing of more Torah, more Mitzvot, more commitment.
Many reasons to celebrate.
To host a Kiddush is just a simple way to say thank you, to you and to God for all we have, for all our blessings in the last two years.
Al asked me if we were happy here in Roanoke. We are very happy and very blessed to be here.
May God bless this congregation and us within it with all the best!
Shabbat Shalom!