Beloved Friends,
These days when someone asks how I am doing I feel the need to share my answer in two parts, “In my immediate circle everyone is good: healthy, safe, and employed.” I then must add, “and the world is on fire.” Our world, in many ways, feels wild and untamed, desert-like and inhospitable. Cathy and I are blessed to have two new members of our family…our granddaughters Margo Harriett and Claire Goldie. These two have become, for me, an oasis in this wilderness. I have been thinking a lot lately about the metaphor of the desert/wilderness and how each of us must find an oasis of hope.
In this week’s Torah portion, B’midbar, we join the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness. As they traverse the desert’s challenges, we uncover meaningful lessons about resilience and inner strength. The wilderness symbolizes life’s uncertainties and difficulties, where we often discover our hidden reserves of courage and resilience.
One lesson B’midbar offers is the power of community. Despite the desert’s harshness, the Israelites come together, offering support and encouragement. This unity becomes their anchor, helping them overcome obstacles and endure hardships.
Moreover, B’midbar highlights the importance of trust in a higher power. As the Israelites journey through the desert, they rely on divine guidance and protection, finding strength in their faith.
In our modern world, where politics can feel like a turbulent wilderness, and climate change poses a looming threat, these lessons resonate deeply. Just as the Israelites found strength in unity, so too can we overcome division by standing together, respecting differing views, and working toward common goals.
Another poignant message from B’midbar is found later in Numbers 10:29, where Moses says to his brother-in-law, Hoban, “We are setting out for the place of which Adonai said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you; for Adonai has promised good to Israel.”
This verse encapsulates the spirit of trust and generosity that sustains the Israelites on their journey. It reminds us to extend kindness and goodwill to others, knowing that ultimately, goodness will prevail.
Drawing from Mussar literature, we find additional guidance for navigating life’s wilderness. The Mussar middah, spiritual attribute of bitachon (trust in God) encourages us to maintain faith in challenging times, while virtues like anavah (humility) remind us to remain open to growth and learning.
As we reflect on B’midbar and the ongoing journey of our ancestors, may we find strength and inspiration in our own journey through life’s wilderness. Let us embrace resilience, unity, faith, and humility, knowing that with courage and perseverance, we can meet the challenges of today’s political climate, social upheaval, and antisemitism.
Let’s heed the call to action to bring hope forward. Together, let’s commit to acts of kindness, to building bridges instead of walls, and to cultivating a sense of unity and compassion in our communities. By embodying these values, we can create a brighter, more hopeful future for ourselves and for generations to come.
Shabbat Shalom,
