D'var Torah

There’s a beautiful poem inspired by this week’s Torah portion, B’shalach, which reads in part:

“God did not lead us by the nearer way/when Pharaoh let the people go at last,/but round-about, by way of the wilderness -/ … into rising waters, which do not part unless,/with an outstretched arm, we step forward, and stand fast.”

 

-“Geulah” by Dan Bellm

B’shalach tells the story of the beginning of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness — across the Red Sea, which parted only after they dared to enter it, and into the desert. B’shalach emphasizes that the Israelites’ path to the Promised Land was anything but linear — a poignant emphasis for many of us here in the 21st century, watching our own society’s extraordinarily winding path toward justice and equity.

What can help us keep going on this winding journey? In B’shalach, the Torah emphasizes that to cross the Red Sea and begin their journey towards freedom, the Israelites needed to come to believe in their own power (rather than waiting for someone else to deliver them) and above all else, they needed each other. In B’shalach, life-changing moments like entering the Red Sea, celebrating on the other shore, and even engaging in self-defense against a violent pursuer cannot happen alone — the Torah emphasizes over and over again that these are collective pursuits, and everyone in the community, each with their unique talents, is needed for their success. It seems like a fitting portion for this week, as we enter both Black History Month and Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) — each designed to center the experiences, history, and leadership of the Black and disability communities, respectively. We all need each other.

How can we show up for each other, this month and beyond? How can we contribute to making our TRS community, our region, and our society more equitable places? B’shalach, Black History Month, and JDAIM invite us to ask this of each other, to brainstorm together, and to work together to begin to build a different world. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Alexandra Stein