One of my favorite parts of being on Senior Staff is when my turn comes up to write the weekly Shabbat Shalom message. It is always fun trying to connect things going on in our world to our weekly portion. Sometimes this serves as a challenge, having to stretch the imagination to come up with a relevant topic. Other times, things just fall into my lap. This is the case for this week.
In this week’s Torah portion Pinchas, we see a transition in leadership declared. I can only wonder how this might compare to something going on in our world today! No matter what party you affiliate with, the news of President Biden stepping down is timely and relevant, so here are just a few comparisons that I found when looking at this week’s Torah portion and the events that occurred this week.
In our portion, Pinchas has to make a difficult decision, killing an Israelite and a midianite woman who “cursed God.” Pinchas says he is doing it “on God’s behalf,” and as a result of his actions, God does not kill any more Israelites. I’m sure this was not easy for him to go through with, but he knew it was the action that he had to take. The same is true for Joe Biden. He may not have necessarily wanted to drop out of the race, but he knew that it was he had to do for the betterment of the party.
Later in the portion, Joshua is chosen to be Moses’ successor. This was a very big deal that symbolized change to come within the leadership. As with any other transition, the people of Israel would have to see what kind of a leader Joshua would be, as change can be hard, but sometimes change can also be good. Democrats and Republicans alike have seen Kamala Harris take on the role of Vice President, but they are soon going to see how she handles potentially taking the realm as the Democratic candidate for President. It will be interesting to see how her leadership is seen across the political spectrum.
Lastly, in this week’s portion, all the details for the sacrificial rituals for festival occasions are described. Looking at this, I can’t help but think about the challenges that the leadership would have had trying to remember all of those details, and the burdens that must have been felt having to relay everything to the people. When I heard about what was happening with President Biden, I had no idea what the next steps entailed. I am so appreciative that Google exists in our day and age! I learned about the procedures for a candidate backing out of the race instantly. I can only wonder how the biblical times would have looked if they had Rabbi Google at their fingertips!
While I know I spent this week’s Shabbat Shalom message talking about comparisons related to politics, I also want to encourage everyone to take some time for yourselves as the election season ramps up. Know that Temple Jeremiah is a place for discussion and conversation, but also a great escape when you feel that you are seeking a more spiritual break within your week. I want to wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a wonderful week ahead!
Shabbat Shalom,
Matt Rissien