Blessed is the one who frees the captive: Three woman came home this week; Romi, Emily and Doron, welcomed by the IDF and their families and friends back in Israel, welcomed with tremendous joy and relief. We continue to pray for the many souls who have “not yet” returned, praying with all our might for their return
We are in the book of Shemot, Parasha Vaera, which means, “I will see” – I will see with all my being, both my body and my soul. God is in conversation with an 80-year-old Moshe, reassuring Moshe that God will take the children of Israel out of their midst.” Could there be a more apt verse to read as we prepare to see who will be released from imprisonment over the coming six weeks.
I think many of us skip over the fact that Moses is 80 at this point. I am not 80 yet, but even at my age, I understand his reluctance. We may be forgiven for not wanting to take on such a monumental challenge as leading a people out of captivity at the age of 80! Thinking about the fact that Moses, and his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam (both older than Moses) take on this challenge sheds new light on their journey of 40 years to come.
We have perhaps thought of these three family members as young, sprightly (Miriam dancing with the maidens after crossing the Sea of Reeds), but they are זְקֵנִ֔ים zakenim, elders. Little hints in Torah often open up our reading and understanding in ways we had not yet anticipated. Who am I? What do I want to accomplish? With God’s help, b’ezrat HaShem, I will bring more learning, more love, more, just more.
Wishing all long life, healthy life, a good life,
With deep love,
Rabbi Lynn
Vayera
January 19, 2025 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk
Blessed is the one who frees the captive: Three woman came home this week; Romi, Emily and Doron, welcomed by the IDF and their families and friends back in Israel, welcomed with tremendous joy and relief. We continue to pray for the many souls who have “not yet” returned, praying with all our might for their return
We are in the book of Shemot, Parasha Vaera, which means, “I will see” – I will see with all my being, both my body and my soul. God is in conversation with an 80-year-old Moshe, reassuring Moshe that God will take the children of Israel out of their midst.” Could there be a more apt verse to read as we prepare to see who will be released from imprisonment over the coming six weeks.
I think many of us skip over the fact that Moses is 80 at this point. I am not 80 yet, but even at my age, I understand his reluctance. We may be forgiven for not wanting to take on such a monumental challenge as leading a people out of captivity at the age of 80! Thinking about the fact that Moses, and his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam (both older than Moses) take on this challenge sheds new light on their journey of 40 years to come.
We have perhaps thought of these three family members as young, sprightly (Miriam dancing with the maidens after crossing the Sea of Reeds), but they are זְקֵנִ֔ים zakenim, elders. Little hints in Torah often open up our reading and understanding in ways we had not yet anticipated. Who am I? What do I want to accomplish? With God’s help, b’ezrat HaShem, I will bring more learning, more love, more, just more.
Wishing all long life, healthy life, a good life,
With deep love,
Rabbi Lynn