It’s now coming up on one year since the beginning these covid restrictions on our lives.
It’s now coming up on one year since the beginning these covid restrictions on our lives. For many, the response has been to adapt how we live, to be with loved ones, and to be in community with others. We have also been given an opportunity to reflect and move in new directions. Throughout our history we have experienced similar challenges, slavery, oppression, inquisitions, pogroms and the Holocaust.
“Mir zenen do...we are still here.”
The source of our resilience and hopefulness is rooted, I believe, in our history and in the Covenant we received as a people in the wilderness of Sinai. Witnessing Jamie Raskin yesterday on the Senate floor was a great affirmation of the deepest Torah. It is the inner Torah that we have carried with us throughout the ages. It is the Torah of Mishpatim, judgements and Mitzvot, right actions, that we have been gifted with throughout the generations. He was speaking Torah for our generation.
This week’s Parsha is called Mishpatim. And during this week of historical and critical meaning for America, this coincidence or non coincidence of this Parsha at this time is profound. While last week our ancestors were given the moral imperatives of the Covenant " Our Constitution", it is this week’s Parsha that lays out the roadmap for all the generations. It is filled with laws and teachings about how to live justly and compassionately. It is about being in partnership with the Giver of Life on this journey in time to the Land of Promise and Fulfillment.
We see the battle between the forces of light and darkness today in our country. We see the descendants of Haman in Congress and throughout the land.
This Shabbat we welcome the month of Adar. Purim is around the corner, providing an antidote for our times. Stay tuned.
May light and joy be upon us,
Kadimah, with hope, faith and strength,
Reb David