As
a parent, as a father, I have a hard time when I am unable to “make it better
for my children”. Certainly, there have been times when I have deliberately
chosen NOT “to make it better” because I believed that our son or daughters needed to “make
it better” him/herself. However, when I am unable to make it better, I feel as if
I am failing my child. Well, while the Jewish people ushered in a new month, and the first
vestiges of the moon could be seen; our 17year-old daughter, spent another night staying up late studying for tests, writing papers, and preparing for the standardized
test required for college/university admissions in the U.S. Usually, I am the last one to go sleep and since it was Rosh Chodesh (the New Moon), I took a moment before heading up to bed to look at the first slivers of the new moon. Our daughter came downstairs, and I turned around. I took one look
at her, and I could see her unhappiness, exhaustion, and anxiousness. I asked if there was anything I could do. Frustrated, tired and emotionally drained,
she began to weep. She looked up and said that there was something I could do. She
asked if I could add more hours to the day so that way she can finish her work.
I explained that the ability to add more hours to the day is way above my pay
grade. I asked if there was anything else I could do. “No”, she replied, “I
just need you to give me more time.” I suggested that we can make"time" more special, we can avoid wasting time or we can fool alter our perceptions of the rate by which time passes.
This
week's Parsha is Bo. The ten plagues
culminate with locusts, darkness and finally the killing of the firstborn. On
the night of the last plague, God instructs Moshe to tell B'nai Yisroel to
recognize and observe Rosh Chodesh, the first day of each month. God instructs
Moshe to tell B’nai Yisroel to slaughter a lamb for each family. The blood
should be painted onto the doorpost. The sacrificed lamb must be completely
eaten that night with no leftovers. The
command continues with God instructing Moshe to reiterate this story to the
children of each family. The Parsha concludes with the command to sanctify the firstborn, remember this night, remember what God did for B'nai Yisroel, and
how B'nai Yisroel eventually returned to the land.
This
is perhaps the first Parsha in which God we read of more than one
commandment. Prior to this Parsha, maybe
three of the 613 Mitzvot could be derived from all of B’reishit (The Book of
Genesis) and the first two Parshiot of Shmot. Now we read both narratives as
well as commandments. While the commandment that focuses specifically upon
Pesach, the commandments such as Korbonot Shel Pesach (Passover Sacrifice),
eating the Passover Sacrifice, completely finish eating the Passover Sacrifice,
eating Matzah, removing the leaven, prohibiting the uncircumcised from eating
the Passover Sacrifice, the prohibitions of eating leaven and seeing leaven and
owning leaven, sanctifying the firstborn, redeeming the firstborn and
recounting Yetziat Mitzrayim, the Exodus from Egypt to name a few. However the
first Mitzvah, the first commandment that God tells Moshe, Aharon, and B’nai
Yisroel does not explicitly focus upon the Exodus but rather upon time and
keeping track of time. VaYomer Adoshem
el Moshe V’el Aharon B’Eretz Mitzrayim Leimor Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon in the Land of Egypt, saying: HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem Rosh Chodeshim
Rishon Hu Lachem L’Chadshei HaShana: This
month shall be for you the beginning of the months, it shall be for you the
first of the months of the year. (Ex 12:1-2) Certainly, all the Mitzvot that
follow this commandment, those that focus specifically upon the Exodus, warrant
God’s speaking to Moshe and Aharon.
From
a narrative perspective, it makes sense that the Torah tells us that these
commandments were issued while they were still in Egypt; B’nai Yisroel had not
yet actually left Egypt but rather making its final preparations. Why is
the first commandment issued focused upon counting? This month will be the
beginning of months; it will be the first month of the year? How will they know
when the next month of begins? Sefer HaChinuch, a 13th
century text written by Pinchas ben Aharon HaLevi of Barcelona clarifies this
issue. Sefer HaChinuch (the Book of Education) lists all 613 Mitzvot in order
of appearance and corresponding to each Parshah. Also, the author provides a
moral and philosophical explanation of each commandment. Regarding the commandment This month shall be for you the beginning of
the months, it shall be for you the first of the months of the year, Sefer
HaChinuch says Klomar K’SheTiru CHidosha
Shel L’Vana Tikb’u Lachem Rosh Chodesh In
other words, when you see the renewal of the moon, you will establish for
yourselves the beginning of the month O
Afilu Lo Tiruha MiKeivan Shi R’Uyahn L’Heiraot Al Pi HaCHesbon HamKubal – or even if you do not see it, once it is
due to be seen according to the accepted reckoning. So the moon’s cycle
will serve as the indicator of the beginning and end of a month. M’SHarshei
Mitzvah Zo K’dei Shya’asu Yisroel Moadei HaShem BizMaNaM – At the root of this precept lies the purpose
that the Israelites should keep the holy days of the Eternal Lord at their
proper times… Before God gives instructions about how to observe the
Exodus, these soon to be former slaves must be able to control time, or observe
time so that they will know the right time to observe God’s festivals.
The first step towards freedom is to observe the passage
of time, mark the passage of time, and declare the right time to observe time-bound commandments. Until now, the master, Egyptians, told the slaves when to
wake up, when to sleep, when to work and when to eat. Now, these former slavers
will have to establish their own schedule and keep their own calendar. Of
course, this schedule and this calendar must be for a higher purpose. It cannot
be a schedule or a calendar in which there is nothing but rather it must be
filled with opportunities to engage and celebrate what is to be free; free to
serve God. Yes, my daughter is overtired
frustrated, anxious and feels overwhelmed. In a moment of anxiety, she exclaimed that she
didn’t even have time to breathe. In some small way, she understands the most
fundamental aspect of slavery. Time belongs to someone else. However, despite
the sense that there neither enough time nor that time belongs to another, our 17-year-old daughter appreciates that moment during the week, where time feels
as if it belongs to her. Shabbat, with its myriad of restrictions, slows time.
As a result, time is recaptured and she can claim her fair share of it.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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