In his commentary on this week’s Torah portion, Va’era, Rabbi Marc D. Angel provides a very powerful insight into merely five words of the Hebrew text.
God instructs Moses: “Rise up early in the morning and stand [tall] before Pharaoh… (Shemot, 9:13)”
Quoting different authorities, Rav Angel, urges us to find inspiration, courage and meaning in God’s concise instruction. He suggests that the true meaning of these few spoken words is to bid us, all, not to bend our heads – figuratively and literally – in deference to seemingly impossible situations of suffering and especially to perpetrators of that suffering. In the commentary, Rav Angel applies God’s directive as a primer for personal conduct when facing decisive, large, watershed societal moments.
GAJE too can apply Rav Angel’s insight.
The challenge to help make Jewish education in our community more affordable is indeed daunting. But we must not be daunted. As God urged Moses, we too must “stand tall”, unbowed, and unafraid before the task.
And so we shall.
Shabbat shalom.
••• Rabbi Angel’s commentary is available at:https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/FMfcgxwGCkmWFPZXQRTnHQLGBZRsCgrT
GAJE, January 24, 2020
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 