(for parshat Ma'asei)
i
The Fall of Man
brings death to the world
and the Couple moves
to the East of Eden.
*
Abraham’s father
dies in Haran.
God calls upon Abraham
to journey to the Land.
*
Egypt
was burying
the firstborn
whom HaShem
had struck
and Israel embarked
out, into the Desert.
*
God says:
When you come to the Land
establish cities
for a man to flee to
if he kills by mistake;
he will take refuge there
from the avenging family.
*
Death sparks a journey.
ii
Through death we know
there is not enough time
to wait to begin.
*
Through death we know
that life is so small,
life cannot contain
the journey inside of us.
We must journey out
beyond where we live
to let this journey take place.
*
So death sparks a journey:
it guides us to life.
____
In memory of Rav Yehuda Amital:
He lived through death
and journeyed out
and built a world.
October 31 – July 9 2010
3? Heshvan 5685 - 27 Tammuz 5770
________
Shabbat Shalom,
Abe
Note that the start of the journey precedes Egypt burying its dead (see Num. 33:1-4). Still, I feel my point bears weight.
Please pray for Ayelet Yakira bat Chaya Hinda Matel Nechama, a one-year-old who needs a bone marrow transplant, and get your cheek swabbed today.
For further reading on Torah and the Parsha, consider: Hirhurim – Jewish Ideas Daily - Rabbi Jonathan Sack’s writings –Pardes - The Virtual Beit Midrash – Yeshiva University Online