From the Rabbi's Desk

I was walking downtown underneath my trusty umbrella when I heard a cacophony of chirping birds. I looked up to see a tree full of birds merrily greeting the morning. The tree was bare, thin branches clearly defined against the backdrop of cloudy skies. I was struck by the contrast. The carefree singing on what I thought was a gloomy day. Vibrant life in a tree left with faint memories of leaves and buds.

I had to capture the moment.

I took out my phone, opened the camera app, and turned toward my twittering subjects to frame the shot. And then... quiet. Gone. I watched as the wing-equipped group went airborne, startled by my presence. Or maybe they were camera shy.

As I thought about it, I realized that I had given up the inspiration, and instead of living in the moment, I had gotten sidetracked.

We were talking about this at our Tanya class this morning (Tanya is a fascinating work on discovering ourselves through a Kabbalistic lens). The term used is Kavanah - intention. Living mindfully. Doing a Mitzvah and being present with mind, heart, and soul. 

Kavanah to action is like a soul to a body. An action can be performed out of habit, mindlessly, or without excitement. Yet in order for the action to come to life, to soar and sing, to inspire and elevate, we need to introduce Kavanah; attention, passion, and care.

It’s a very hot August afternoon and Sarah is taking her daily walk. As she nears her local shul, she notices that the shrubbery outside the entrance is on fire. She quickly pulls out her cellphone to call the fire brigade before the fire causes any damage.

She dials 911, identifies herself, gives her location and explains the situation.

"Do you mean to tell me," says the emergency operator, "that there's a burning bush on the synagogue lawn and you want us to put it out?"

I must have heard every burning bush joke :-)

But the conversation at the original bush that ensues between Moses and Hashem is puzzling.  

G-d tells Moshe to take the Jews out of slavery. Moshe resists, saying that with his speech impediment (a story for another time) he's not the best man for the job. If the whole mission is to go and talk with Pharaoh, and communicate G-d's message to the Jews, wouldn't you want the best radio voice in the industry? Someone with gifted oratory skills, and a highlight reel of a resume in public speaking. Not someone who lisps and stutters.

And yet, Hashem sends him despite his impairment. Why? With an A-list orator, the people may have doubted the veracity of the message, feeling that they may have been swayed by his charisma, eloquent delivery, and polished presentation.

However, a message that is true and authentic will withstand scrutiny and challenge and will ultimately stand the test of time.

In our lives, let's not shy away from positions or moments of impact and influence, under the perceived guise that we may not be best suited for the role. If we have something valuable to share (even if not in the nicest packaging), and Hashem put us in this situation,  it's an indicator that He believes in our ability to shine.

So I heard about this new escape room in Downtown Petaluma (Code Zone).

An escape room is a series of challenges, puzzles, and mysteries needing to be solved, that together lead to the key to... escape the room. They can be fun team-building experiences filled with a sense of excitement and adventure.

But if you think about it, shouldn't it be a traumatizing and frightening experience, knowing that you are stuck; the doors are locked; you are in unfamiliar territory.

The simple and obvious answer is that you know that there is an exit, and that the operator can and will let you out. The way out is sure.

This is exactly what happens in this week's Torah. Joseph, before passing, instructs his children that "the day will come when Hashem will remember you. At that point, please bring me for burial in the land of Israel." 

Knowing that they would face some of the hardest times (not just perceived), assuring them that there was light at the end of the tunnel gave them the necessary hope to weather the storm of the Egyptian slavery.

In our lives, as we face various challenges or dark moments, it is faith that there is an Operator who can and will lead us to better times that helps us ride the sometimes turbulent wave of Life.