1 June, 2024 20:56

The last few parshas ; and in general, the entire Book of Vi’ekray…stems from Har Sinai.

The humbliest of mountains.

It with that in mind… the parsha we read this shabbot appears to put us in our place so to speak.

Almost all commandments [a translation that many would say would be better as "connections"], start off with "if".

The choice is given. The first section, IF, you [you specifically, and you all as an am], …and then proceeds to share wonderous beautiful words that truthfully should encourage each and everyone of us. And in fact the actions we are asked to choose are all within our means. God does not ask of us to be able to perform miracles to get the blessings outlined in this weeks parsha. No one is asked to be able to lift 1000 kilo rocks or jump to the moon, or walk on water, or turn water to wine. No. Our tasks [all given as optional] are … seemingly quite basic.

And [later in the torah, the torah says specifically they are all within our grasp and not far at all, and not in the heavens].

It is – yes there is a list of what to do [and not do], but when one reads the amazing beautiful promise — of — being able to sleep peacefully in our own land!!!! Who wouldn’t want these words??? I just don’t understand what people are afraid of. Again God isn’t asking anything beyond what is reasonably attainable. Wake up, say blessings, wash hands, tzizit, tephilan, kosher, shabbot.

No miracles required. No walking on coals or attaining "budda"..

So why do we not do them? Why do we continue to fight Gods words to us?

Especially when the next section is filled with all the horrors of the world — that we’ve experienced in every generation and now still [even with our mighty army, tech, people cannot sleep in their own beds with peace] all that has happened and is happening — literally is up to us, each jew…. me, you, the other person down the street.

We’re all held responsible. So yes… the little baby who sits in the pit of Gaza and the Shoah survivor too…why should they suffer? Why anyone suffers??

Because simply enough too many Jews [myself] choose the later verses in the same parsha. We choose the "if you do not"

And sadly if we were just honest about it this includes so called religious people. We sit around and point to all the other people and things and refuse to look in the mirror and accept our own role in this travesty.

May, I Daniel, be blessed to listen to my own rebuke of myself and chose daily the first section — the "If I" do what God asks…then perhaps drop by drop others will do, and then peace will come to the Land — just as the Torah promises.