Read & Listen

Probably most of us know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is. Merriam-Webster defines the term as something that becomes real or true by virtue of having been predicted or expected. In other words, making a statement or prediction can actually influence our behaviors, which can make it more likely that the outcome will be impacted.

Imagine for a moment that you walk into a public library to pick up some children’s books for some tiny humans in your life. You head towards the children’s section, and you see that the front desk is empty – the librarian who usually sits there is not there. Perhaps they are in the bathroom, perhaps they have a day off, but they are not there. You were hoping for some assistance finding books on particular topics to read with your littles, so you approach the desk in the reference center and say to the librarian there, “Hi, I’m looking for some children’s books. Could you help me find what I’m looking for?”

Tonight, in an evening of new beginnings, we rededicate our building, our sacred space, our Jewish communal home, the Woodstock Jewish Congregation’s synagogue.

Blessed Wholeness, Our eyes are open wide As we walk into our familiar sacred space, Some of us for the first time in many months, Some of us for the first time in over a year, All of us for the first time since the renovations have been completed.

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Korach, which begins with an incident involving a man named Korach, who responds to Moses’ brother Aaron’s appointment to the priesthood by… staging a mutiny. The result was that God stepped in and caused the earth to open up and swallow Korach and his followers, their tents and all.

Korakh assembles 250 Israelite leaders and publicly confronts Moses and Aaron: “Why do you merit to be the leaders?” Korakh’s argument sounds reasonable — did not YHVH speak to all of the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai?

The Children of Israel are preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses sends 12 scouts, one from each tribe, to explore this land they had heard flowed with milk and honey. Forty days later, the scouts return. They bring back evidence of the land’s fruitfulness — an enormous cluster of grapes. But then 10 of the scouts offer a damning report: The inhabitants are enormous Titans.

After more than a year encamped at Mount Sinai, the time has come for the Children of Israel to march to the Promised Land. Transformed from a throng of refugee slaves, they are now organized into tribes and troops, bound by laws, a newly covenanted community. Their task is to follow the protecting Cloud of the Divine Presence. The Cloud lifts, the Children of Israel break camp, and they follow the cloud on a three-day journey.

The instructions are clear: Aaron and his sons are to be conduits so that Divine energy, and goodness can flow into the Children of Israel.

Our sages are very clear that the Torah had to be given in the wilderness. The wilderness is land that belongs to no one. It is untracked; undomesticated. In order to hear the voice of God, we must find a way to clear our minds of the details and involvements of our daily lives.