Our university daughter made an
unscheduled return home this week. She should be in the middle of midterms and
watching college basketball in New York where she attends university. Because
of the Coronavirus, U.S. universities have closed for the two weeks including
Columbia, Princeton, Ohio State, Stanford, Washington St. and a variety of others totaling approximately 100,000 students.
Our daughter’s school is one of them. So we flew her home and we will wait and
see if the school re-opens as scheduled. Earlier this week, Israel declared
that anyone, Israeli or non-Israeli, entering the country will automatically
enter a 14 day quarantine period before resuming their time in Israel. Italy has essentially closed down. There is a
genuine concern about the spread of this virus. Yet information remains scant,
there seem to be too few tests and the number of tests given has been
compared to South Korea, another hard-hit area has been minuscule. The concern
has been that widespread testing would mean that far more people are infected
than currently reported. However without having all the information, without
knowing who may or may not be infected, then diminishing the intensity of the
virus’ spread becomes more and more difficult. This lack of information, this
lack of transparency has become a snare or a trap that has paralyzed
universities, school systems, numerous public events as well as financial
markets.
This week’s Torah portion is
entitled Ki Tissah. Parsha Ki Tissa is divided into several parts. The first
part being the commanded to take a census of the population and collect a half-shekel for each person counted. The second part is the final blueprints for
the Mishkan, the spices that are to be used, as well as the oil that is to be
processed prior to burning. God then designates two men, Betzalel ben Uri from
the tribe of Judah and Ahaliav ben Achisamach from the tribe of Dan to be the
Master Builder and Designer of this national project. God reiterates the
commandment of the Shabbat and reminds Moshe that anyone who violates it will
be put to death and his/her soul will be cut off from the people. The next part B’nai Yisroel commits the sin
of the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf): they built and then
worshipped an idol. God wants to wipe out the people but Moshe urges God to
reconsider. Moshe then descends the mountain and becomes just as upset as God,
and he throws down the Shnei Luchot
HaBrit – the Two Tablets of the Covenant. After a day or two when
calm has been restored, Moshe re-ascends the mountain in order to pray for
national forgiveness. Moshe then has an opportunity to experience another
personal revelation even more powerful than the Burning Bush; Moshe has the
opportunity to witness God’s passing before him. Dictated by God, Moshe chisels
the Aseret Diberot into two new
Tablets. He then goes back down the mountain. This time he descends with light
and glory of God emanating from him.
During the moment when Moshe re-
ascends the mountain seeking forgiveness for the people and Moshe experiences a
personal revelation and watched God pass by; God re-iterates the covenant. VaYomer
Hinei Anochi Koreit Brit Neged Kol Amcha E’eseh Niflaot Asher Lo Nivre’u V’Chol
Ha’Aretz U’VeChol HaGoyim - God said,
‘Behold, I seal a covenant: Before your entire people I shall make distinctions
such as have never been created in the entire world and among all the nations;
and the entire people among whom you are will see the work of Hashem – which is
awesome - that I am about to do with you. HiShameir Lecha Pen Tichrot Brit L’Yosheiv Ha’Aretz Asher Atah Ba Aleha
Pen Yiheyeh L’Mokeish B’Kirbecha- Be
vigilant lest you seal a covenant with the inhabitant of the land to which you
come, lest it be a snare among you. (Ex. 34:11-12)The lesson of the Eigel
Zahav, (the Golden Calf) was that B’nai Yisroel mimicked the indigenous
idolatrous people that were living in B’nai Yisroel’s covenanted land. God reminded Moshe and by association
reminded the people that they must not weaken the nature of the covenant. They
must not deal with these nations for fear that B’nai Yisroel becomes ensnared (L’Mokeish), trapped, and weakened. How
could these idol-worshipping nations ensnare B’nai Yisroel? The fact is these
nations cannot trap or ensnare B’nai Yisroel unless B’nai Yisroel ceases its
vigilance, if they start dealing with these nations, or if they think that
peace with these nations will lead to the perpetuation of B’nai Yisroel. From
God’s perspective is to remind Moshe that the desire to make peace with those
who want to destroy B’nai Yisroel, is not peace but rather will lead to B’nai
Yisroel’s destruction.
Yes, it has been wonderful having our daughter home for this
past week. However, the circumstances for her return raise troubling concerns.
We are a highly interconnected society. Individuals are incredibly connected
but institutions are also highly connected to each other. The strength of that
connection is only as strong as there are immutable facts, trust, and
transparency. The snares and the traps are clear and obvious. Financial
markets, public health, and welfare can easily be trapped when trust and transparency
diminish. While such concern may seem too distant, the concerns are quite
immediate. The lack of trust affects all those who have been advised to stay
home, all those who have been quarantined, all those university and high school
students who will now have to take classes online, all those who have lost
portions of their retirement to the market decline and all those who have a
loved one at risk. The result is that numerous aspects of daily life will
become snared and trapped. In the meantime, we behave responsibly.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
No comments:
Post a Comment