Fluctuations in Faith

God does not have much confidence in the Jews leaving Egypt.

As the Jews leave Egypt, God diverts them away from the Philistines since He is afraid “they will have second thoughts when they encounter the difficulties of battle and wish to return to Egypt.” (Shemot 13:17) 

Why does God have such little faith in us?  Haven’t the Israelites just experienced the ten plagues?  Haven’t they seen enough to know God can defend them?

The answer is no.

It is not easy to have faith, and God knows that.

While the common explanation is that the Children of Israel still possessed a “slave mentality” and were free but not fully free, I think Parshat Beshalach is teaching us a lesson about faith.

There are fluctuations in faith.

I learn a lot from my Ramaz 3^rd graders.  One of them asked me this morning. “God split the sea for the Jews.  When we’re in trouble, will God perform miracles for us?” 

Wow.

My answer, you ask?  I did the best I could to explain that the miracles that took place in the past remind us that God is there.  They don’t mean that God will always perform them for us.  God exists, but we also need to do the best we can. 

(To top that, a 4th grader this morning asked, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  I responded that, sometimes, we just don’t know why things happen.  The world is much bigger than us, and sometimes we can’t explain why things happen. We have to try and make sense and hope things work out the way they should.)

There are times when we feel close to God, and there are times when we feel distant.  Moments of great closeness and strong feelings of belief can very quickly change into feelings of distance, doubt, and despair.

Look at the flow of this week's parsha.

-       Jews excitedly leave Egypt yet God doesn’t trust them to encounter adversity

-       Jews despair when caught between the sea and the Egyptians

-       Jews rejoice after being saved through the Splitting of the Sea

-       Immediately after, they complain since they have no water

-       God provides water and promises to protect them

-       They bitterly complain over a lack of food and want to return to Egypt!

-       God provides them with man and gives instructions on how to collect it

-       Israelites ignore the instructions

-       Again, no water – God provided last time yet the Jews complain again

-       Water provided

Are you noticing a trend?!  Faith is not easy.  Even when we have every reason to believe, it is possible to lose faith.  How much more so when we encounter situations that truly challenge our belief!

The portion ends with the story of Amalek’s attack against the nation and the Israelite response.  Here, too, we find a lesson in faith.  Moshe goes up to watch the battle.  When he raises his hands, the Jews win; and when he lowers his hand, Amalek wins.  The Mishna famously asks, “Were Moshe’s hands the determining factor?”  The Mishna answers of course not.  Moshe’s hands were reminders or indicators of the state of the Jewish condition.  When his hands were raised, they guided the eyes of the nation heavenward and inspired victory.  When Moshe’s hands were lowered, the nation lacked this religious inspiration and motivation.

Faith is fickle.  This week’s portion, coming on the heels of so many real-world challenges to our faith, is a guide to responding to the fluctuations in faith that are a natural component of our system of belief. 

Elie Wiesel once said, “You can be a Jew with God; you can be a Jew against God; but not without God.”  Even in its fluctuations, let us all have faith.

Rabbis on Buses Touring Israel

It may not have the makings of an online hit like Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," but I'm in Israel with AIPAC's Leffell Fellows, 30 rabbinical students from Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform seminaries.

It has been an incredible - and exhausting - experience.

We met, listened to, and learned from such noted figures as Yariv Oppenheimer, General Director of Peace Now; Rabbi Dr. Danny Gordis; Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman; Israeli-Arab activist Mohammed Darawhse; and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat.  And there are still two days left!

I hope to provide a more detailed report of the experience once I get back (and get some sleep), but I want to share one takeaway:

Israel is complex, and we need to approach this by reaching and exploring beyond our comfort zones.

Speaker after speaker touched upon this theme.  Israel is an incredible, incredible country, and, at the same time, it's a young country with flaws that need fixing.  And that's OK!

Our group has heard and seen a lot.  We are a diverse bunch with different religious and political outlooks.  Throughout the trip, I witnessed young men and women - future rabbis and leaders of the Jewish community - grappling with the reality of Israel.  One may hold more hawkish views, while listening respectfully and asking questions of Saeb Erekat.  One may have preconceived biases towards the right or the status quo in Israel and also recognize that those with different viewpoints make good points, too.

In welcoming the students, I was asked to set the tone for the trip.  Here's what I said:

When Yaakov's name was changed to Yisrael, the explanation for the change is "ki sarita im Elokim v'im anashim va-tuchal - you fought with God and with man and were victorious."

Yaakov became Yisrael through struggle.  Israel is born of struggle.  Israel involves struggle.  The way we love Israel can also be a struggle.  We relate to Israel differently, and we should not be afraid to confront views about Israel different than our own.

I am encouraged and energized by all that I am hearing.  Similarly, I am encouraged and energized by how the future rabbis of the community embrace this complexity.

Speaking of complexity, I'm now off to the Knesset!