MISHPATIM 5779
WE ASCEND – WE DESCEND

JANUARY 31, 2019
25 SHEVAT 5779

God said to Moses, "Ascend to me on the mountain and remain there and I shall give you the tablets… of the Commandments to teach to them" (Exodus 24:12).

Moses was commanded to ascend the mountain and remain there to receive the tablets affirming God's commitment to the people that He designated as a Holy Nation and a Kingdom of Priests.

Rashi, the great medieval commentator, interprets the seemingly superfluous two words "remain there" to emphasize to Moses that he would remain on the mountain for the forty days it takes God to complete His holy work.

Yet the brief command "remain there" can be viewed as God's challenge to Moses. Now that you have ascended mountain to receive the Commandments, what's your next step? Will these precious moments on this sacred space enlarge your spirit and enrich your life? Interpreted in this way, ascending the mountain is a metaphor for attaining high goals. It requires great effort and imagination to get to the top, but, once there, what's next?

In the 1972 movie, The Candidate, Robert Redford portrays a young idealist who emerges as the opponent of a powerful incumbent Senator. At first, he is ambivalent, but, ultimately, he is swept up in the excitement of the campaign that he wins. The film ends with a frightened and concerned Senator-elect turning to his campaign manager, asking, "What do I do now?" He captured the prize and found himself perched on the mountaintop, but had no idea what to do next. He was painfully aware that he could not indefinitely remain on the mountain basking in the glory of victory.

Few of us are candidates for public office but all of us, at different stages of our lives, do ascend mountains and rejoice in our accomplishments. It may be the promotion for which we have worked so hard; it may be the excitement of standing at the side of a life partner and sharing in the ceremony that sanctifies our relationship; it may be any goal we have set before us that we have attained by virtue of hard work. Standing on the mountain of this achievement, the question is how long we will remain there basking in the glory of our accomplishment. Will we descend from the heights to build upon today's achievements? Will we prove ourselves ready to focus on new goals and hopefully ascend future mountains?

For Moses, ascending the mountain and basking in God's glory for forty days was a remarkable experience. When he descended, he directed his energies toward leading and teaching his people. The forty days on the mountain were a heady experience; but it is for the forty years of down-to-earth leadership that he is celebrated in both Jewish and human history.

For each of us, life is a series of highs and lows. May we cherish the moments when we find ourselves on the mountain top, and when, in due time, we descend, may we have the courage and the inspiration to plunge ahead with our lives.

From the holy city of Jerusalem my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach, a Shabbat have peace and blessing.

Rabbi Arnold M Goodman


YITRO 5779
EMBRACING YESTERDAY AND TODAY

January 24, 2019
18 Shevat 5779

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, observes Moses' determination to adjudicate the claims of every litigant. It was an endless process that exhausted both Moses and those waiting to be heard by him. Jethro takes it upon himself to offer unsolicited critique and advice. He admonishes Moses, "You cannot do this by yourself," and suggests that Moses train competent people to screen the claims come before him. In essence what Jethro proposed is what we recognize as our contemporary system of lower and higher courts. Moses heeded Jethro's advice and set into motion the process whereby only the most complicated cases were brought to him.

We all value our independence; we desire to control our destiny. Yet our chances of success are immeasurably increased with a healthy balance of interdependence and independence. Moses does internalize Jethro's critique and does reach out to others so that he can succeed in his leadership role.

Yet when God instructs Moses to gather the people at the foot of Mount Sinai for the moment of divine revelation, He summons Moses to ascend the mountain to receive the actual tablets of the Decalogue. A fascinating Midrash contends: Moses ascended and descended the mountain accompanied by (God's) Covenant with the Patriarchs and the merit of their descendants.

Moses slowly trudging up the mountain was a solitary figure, but he was not alone; he was accompanied and buoyed up by those who preceded him. So it is with all of us whose worldview, to a greater or lesser extent, been shaped by parents, teachers, and colleagues. They all had a hand in making us who we are and, to the degree that we internalize these memories, we can somehow feel them at our side as we meet life's many challenges. Santayana alluded to this in his astute observation that those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The corollary is that the lessons imparted to us do help us build a better life.

There is much wisdom in the rabbinic teaching, "Acquire a mentor and develop a relationship with a colleague" (Ethics of the Fathers 1:6). We are best prepared for life we have been properly mentored and then sharing our journey with a contemporary. We increase the chances of success when we integrate historical memory with colleagues and co-workers who share our goals and hopes. May we all be blessed with such dual support as we move forward with our lives, develop our careers, and face the challenges that are ever present in every life.

From Newton where I will be spending Shabbat with Shira, Wes, and the grandchildren, my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach, a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Rabbi Arnold Goodman